Effective July 1, 2013 firefighters, rescue and ambulance workers who suffer an infectious disease or lung disease will be presumed to have acquired the disease from their employment. Entitled "An act relating
to workers’ compensation for firefighters and rescue or ambulance workers" the bill creates a presumption that a firefighter or rescue or ambulance worker with
lung disease or an infectious disease has acquired the disease as a result of
his or her employment. The presumption does not apply if a vaccine was refused by worker who later contacts the infectious disease. Also, the presumption
of compensability shall not apply to a worker who has used tobacco product
within 10 years of the date of diagnosis.
The Bill that passed out of the Vermont Legislature may be found here:
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2014/bills/Passed/S-085.pdf
