Bill: HB 1388, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

House Homeland Security & Public Safety

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral

Author(s)

Dwayne Bohac

Bill Caption

Relating to certain diseases or illnesses suffered by firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

HB 1388 would make it easier for a firefighter or emergency medical technicians to claim government benefits for an acute myocardial infarction or stroke. Currently, they could only claim benefits while engaged in non-routine stressful or strenuous physical activity. Firefighters and medical technicians are currently also unable to claim benefits, if they suffered an acute myocardial infarction or stroke while doing activities which were doing activities that were considered clerical, administrative, or non-manual. This bill would remove those requirements and as long as the firefighter or medical technician suffered a disability or death related to a myocardial infarction or stroke while on duty, the firefighter would be eligible for disability.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Firefighters and medical technicians are an essential part of our community. We appreciate the work that they do to keep us safe. However, typically expanding who has access to government benefits isn’t seen as something that would be supportive of our liberty principles. Despite our trepidation, HB 1388 would impact such a tiny percentage of individuals that we would prefer to remain neutral regarding this bill.

Organizations Opposed

Texas Municipal League
Source URL (retrieved on 04/19/2024 03:04 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb1388?print_view=true