Bill Text: NH HB385 | 2021 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-21 - Signed by Governor Sununu 06/18/2021; Chapter 83; Eff: 08/17/2021 [HB385 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2021-HB385-Enrolled.html
HB 385-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
9Apr2021... 0307h
2021 SESSION
21-0481
10/08
HOUSE BILL 385-FN
AN ACT relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.
SPONSORS: Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. S. Pearson, Rock. 6; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 11; Rep. Goley, Hills. 8; Rep. Doucette, Rock. 8; Rep. Pratt, Rock. 3; Rep. Soucy, Merr. 16; Rep. Lanzara, Hills. 28; Rep. O'Brien, Hills. 36
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill extends to age 70 the benefits from the presumption that heart or lung disease is occupationally related for firefighters.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
9Apr2021... 0307h 21-0481
10/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Workers' Compensation; Firefighter and Heart, Lung, or Cancer Disease; Presumption. Amend RSA 281-A:17, I(c) to read as follows:
(c) The benefits of RSA 281-A:17, I shall not continue in effect beyond one month after a call, volunteer or permanent firefighter reaches his or her [sixty-fifth] seventieth birthday.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
21-0481
Amended 4/16/21
HB 385-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2021-0307h)
AN ACT relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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STATE: | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Various Government Funds | ||||
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COUNTY: |
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Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | |
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill extends to age 70 the benefits from the presumption that heart or lung disease is occupationally related for firefighters. Extending the limitation to age 70 could lead to more claims for workers’ compensation, and increased workers’ compensation rates for municipalities. However, the Association has no information from which to estimate any increase in claims or costs. The Association does not expect any impact on municipal revenues.
The Department of Safety indicates this change would increase the potential for continuation of current claims and make new claims possible. The costs related to the increased claims cannot be determined, but would impact State, county and local expenditures for workers compensation.
The Department of Labor does not anticipate this bill would impact state, county or local revenues. In terms of expenditures, the Department states it is possible that extension of the presumption to age 70 could lead to increased expenditures, at the county and local levels through an increase in premiums costs for workers' compensation coverage. However, there is no way for the Department to credibly quantify such potential increase in accepted claims or premium costs.
It is assumed no fiscal impact will occur until after July 1, 2021.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
New Hampshire Municipal Association and Departments of Safety and Labor
