87R2830 MCK-D
 
  By: Dean H.B. No. 4301
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain claims for benefits, compensation, or
  assistance by certain public safety employees and survivors of
  certain public safety employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 607.002, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 607.002.  REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A public safety employee
  who is exposed to a contagious disease is entitled to reimbursement
  from the employing governmental entity for reasonable medical
  expenses incurred in treatment for the prevention of the disease
  if:
               (1)  the disease is not an "ordinary disease of life" as
  that term is used in the context of a workers' compensation claim;
               (2)  the exposure to the disease occurs during the
  course of the employment; and
               (3)  the employee requires preventative medical
  treatment because of exposure to the disease.
         (b)  For purposes of this section, a disease is not an
  "ordinary disease of life" if the disease is the basis for a
  disaster declared by the governor under Section 418.014 for all or
  part of the state.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 607, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 607.0545 to read as follows:
         Sec. 607.0545.  DISEASES THAT CAUSE A DISASTER DECLARATION.
  A firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician who
  contracts a disease that is the basis for a disaster declared by the
  governor under Section 418.014 for all or part of the state that
  results in death or total or partial disability is presumed to have
  contracted the disease during the course and scope of employment as
  a firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician.
         SECTION 3.  Section 607.058(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A presumption under Section 607.053, 607.054, 607.0545,
  607.055, or 607.056 may be rebutted through a showing by a
  preponderance of the evidence that a risk factor, accident, hazard,
  or other cause not associated with the individual's service as a
  firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician was a
  substantial factor in bringing about the individual's disease or
  illness, without which the disease or illness would not have
  occurred.
         SECTION 4.  Section 615.021(e)(1), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Personal injury" means an injury resulting from:
                     (A)  an external force, an activity, or a disease
  caused by or resulting from:
                           (i) [(A)]  a line-of-duty accident; or
                           (ii) [(B)]  an illness caused by
  line-of-duty work under hazardous conditions; or
                     (B)  a disease that is the basis for a disaster
  declared by the governor under Section 418.014 for all or part of
  the state.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 615, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 615.0211 to read as follows:
         Sec. 615.0211.  PRESUMPTION OF LINE-OF-DUTY INJURY. (a) In
  this section, "line of duty" has the meaning assigned by Section
  615.021.
         (b)  An individual listed under Section 615.003 who suffers a
  personal injury resulting from a disease that is the basis for a
  disaster declared by the governor under Section 418.014 for all or
  part of the state is presumed to have sustained the injury in the
  line of duty in the individual's position as described by Section
  615.003.
         SECTION 6.  Section 615.072(c)(1), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Personal injury" means an injury resulting from:
                     (A)  an external force, an activity, or a disease
  caused by or resulting from:
                           (i) [(A)]  a line-of-duty accident; or
                           (ii) [(B)]  an illness caused by
  line-of-duty work under hazardous conditions; or
                     (B)  a disease that is the basis for a disaster
  declared by the governor under Section 418.014 for all or part of
  the state.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter D, Chapter 615, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 615.0721 to read as follows:
         Sec. 615.0721.  PRESUMPTION OF LINE-OF-DUTY INJURY. (a) In
  this section, "line of duty" has the meaning assigned by Section
  615.072.
         (b)  An individual listed under Section 615.071 who suffers a
  personal injury resulting from a disease that is the basis for a
  disaster declared by the governor under Section 418.014 for all or
  part of the state is presumed to have sustained the injury in the
  line of duty in the individual's position as described by Section
  615.071.
         SECTION 8.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
  claim for benefits, compensation, or assistance brought on or after
  the effective date of this Act. A claim for benefits, compensation,
  or assistance brought before that date is covered by the law in
  effect on the date the claim was made, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.