Bill would expand occupational disease coverage

Legislation in Oregon to be read at a public hearing Wednesday would require first responder disability or retirement programs to presumptively cover occupational diseases.

H.B. 4062, prefiled by Democratic Rep. Janeen Sollman, would require that cities that provide disability or retirement coverage for firefighters and police officers but are not subject to workers compensation laws to cover occupational diseases unless clear and convincing medical evidence shows that the condition was unrelated to employment, or a pre-duty physical examination showed evidence of the occupational disease.

The bill also establishes a time limitation for filing a claim of one year from the date the claimant first discovered or should have discovered the occupational disease or was informed of the condition by a physician.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Business and Labor.