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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain presumptions applicable to claims for benefits |
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or compensation for certain medical conditions brought by certain |
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first responders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 607.056, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 607.056. ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION OR STROKE. (a) A |
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firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician who |
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suffers an acute myocardial infarction or stroke resulting in |
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disability or death is presumed to have suffered the disability or |
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death during the course and scope of employment as a firefighter, |
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peace officer, or emergency medical technician if: |
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(1) while on duty, the firefighter, peace officer, or |
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emergency medical technician: |
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(A) was engaged in a situation that involved |
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[nonroutine] stressful or strenuous physical activity involving |
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fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material response, emergency |
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medical services, law enforcement, or other emergency response |
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activity; or |
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(B) participated in a training exercise that |
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involved [nonroutine] stressful or strenuous physical activity; |
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and |
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(2) the acute myocardial infarction or stroke occurred |
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not later than eight hours after the end of a shift in which [while] |
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the firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician was |
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engaging in the activity described under Subdivision (1). |
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(b) For purposes of this section, "[nonroutine] stressful |
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or strenuous physical activity" does not include clerical, |
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administrative, or nonmanual activities. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a claim for benefits or compensation brought on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A claim for benefits or compensation |
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brought before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date the claim was made, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |