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Senate backs bill making Parkinson’s disease a presumptive firefighters' occupational illness
Summary
The Senate passed legislation adding Parkinson’s disease to the list of presumptive occupational illnesses for firefighters, allowing affected firefighters and their families to seek disability or death benefits more readily. Sponsors cited studies and veteran firefighters' cases to argue for the change.
The Senate endorsed changes to Alabama law extending presumptive occupational‑disease coverage to include Parkinson’s disease for firefighters.
Floor sponsors said the bill — carried in the House by Representative Treadway and supported by Sen. Barfoot on the floor — amends definitions and benefit provisions so that firefighters who develop Parkinson’s disease after an otherwise‑clean physical at entry and after a minimum service period will be presumed to have contracted the disease in the course of employment, unless the state proves otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. Senator Barfoot said research shows "a 10‑fold increase of Parkinson's risk for firefighters," citing published surveys and advocacy materials from firefighter associations and medical journals.
Under the statute, qualifying firefighters generally must have passed an entry physical that showed no evidence of the condition and must have completed at least three years of service; the bill also aligns municipal and state benefit provisions and preserves standard appeal and review procedures. Sponsors said the change will make it easier for firefighters and their survivors to receive disability or death benefits tied to a qualifying occupational disease.
The Senate adopted the committee substitute and voted to pass the measure. Backers urged timely implementation to help families already facing heavy medical and financial burdens.
