HB 918 -- OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

SPONSOR:  Brown

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 16 to 0 with 1 present.

This bill adds peace officers certified pursuant to Chapter 590,
RSMo, to those occupations for whom disease of the lungs or
respiratory tract, hypotension, hypertension, or disease of the
heart or cardiovascular system, including carcinoma, may be
recognized as occupational diseases for the purpose of workers'
compensation.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Could
Exceed $100,000 in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.  Estimated Cost
on Other State Funds of Could Exceed $100,000 in FY 2005, FY
2006, and FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this protection is already given
to firefighters.  Police are often called upon to rescue people
before firefighters arrive and are subject to the same
occupational hazards as firefighters.  They should have the same
protections.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Brown; and Fraternal
Order of Police of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am