2025 -- H 5175

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LC000789

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOTIFICATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE

OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AFTER EXPOSURE TO

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Casey, Casimiro, Diaz, Messier, Ackerman,
Shanley, Noret, Hull, and Read

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2025

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-28.36-1, 23-28.36-2 and 23-28.36-4 of the General Laws in

Chapter 23-28.36 entitled "Notification of Fire Fighters, Police Officers and Emergency Medical

Technicians After Exposure to Infectious Diseases" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-28.36-1. Legislative findings.

     The general assembly finds and declares that by reason of their employment, fire fighters,

police officers, and emergency medical technicians are required to work in the midst of, and are

subject to, exposure to infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency

virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19); that after exposure, fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians

are not informed of the exposures; that fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical

technicians so exposed can potentially and unwittingly expose coworkers, families, and members

of the public to infectious diseases. The general assembly further finds and declares that all the

aforementioned conditions exist and arise out of or in the course of employment.

     23-28.36-2. Definitions.

     The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings herein

ascribed:

     (1) “Contagious disease” means an infectious disease.

     (2) “Disability” means a condition of physical incapacity to perform any assigned duty or

duties in the fire department or emergency medical service.

     (3) “Emergency medical technician” means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 4.1 of

this title to provide emergency medical services.

     (4) “Fire department” means service groups (paid or volunteer) that are organized and

trained for the prevention and control of loss of life and property from fire or other emergency.

     (5) “Fire fighter” means an individual who is assigned to fire fighting activity and is

required to respond to alarms and perform emergency action at the location of a fire, hazardous

materials, or other emergency incident.

     (6) “Infectious disease” means interruption, cessation, or disorder of body functions,

systems, or organs transmissible by association with the sick or their secretions or excretions,

excluding the common cold. Infectious disease includes, but is not limited to, human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

     (7) “Licensed facility” means a hospital, nursing home, dialysis center, physician’s office

operatory, or the like, as may be licensed by the state to provide medical care.

     (8) “Police officer” means any permanently employed city or town police officer, state

police officer, committing squad member, or other permanent law enforcement officer as defined

in § 12-7-21; provided, however, this shall not include the highest ranking officer of any of the

departments.

     (9) “Strike force member” means any member of the statewide strike force of the

department of attorney general.

     23-28.36-4. Occupational disability for fire fighters. Occupational disability of fire

fighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians.

     Any active fire fighter or, police officer or emergency medical technician who is unable to

perform his or her duties in his or her department by reason of exposure to infectious disease as

defined in § 23-28.36-2, which infectious disease develops or manifests itself as a result of the

exposure during a period while the fire fighter or, police officer or emergency medical technician

is in the service of the department, shall be entitled to receive an occupational disability, and he or

she shall be entitled to all of the benefits provided for in chapter 19 of title 45 chapters 19, 21 and

21.2 of title 45, as applicable, and chapter 10 of title 36, as applicable if the fire fighter, police

officer or emergency medical technician is employed by the state.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOTIFICATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE

OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AFTER EXPOSURE TO

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

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     This act amends the definition of infectious diseases to include the coronavirus disease

2019 (COVID-19).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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