Lawmakers in Florida on Monday sent to committee a bill that would allow “certain previously conducted” physical examinations to satisfy a requirement under the state’s existing presumption for heart disease, hypertension, and tuberculosis suffered by first responders.
S.B. 330, introduced Nov. 3, addresses the preemployment screenings required for the presumptions and would permit a qualifying first responder to use a physical examination from a former employer for the purpose of claiming a specified presumption.
Under current law, first responders, namely law enforcement officers, firefighters, correctional officers and probation officers, must have a screening conducted by their current employer to qualify for the presumptions, eliminating potential evidence that the first responder already had a condition before taking on a new role.
The new bill would allow first responders to use an older examination to trigger the presumption if their current employer didn’t require such an exam.