State Becomes Latest to Adopt Presumption Clause for Firefighters
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 | 0
West Virginia this week became the latest state to adopt a presumption clause for occupational diseases among firefighters.
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 82 into law, which takes effect June 9, declaring that for workers' compensation purposes, certain cancers and other diseases are presumed to be caused by hazardous chemicals that firefighters encounter in the line of duty.
The firefighter has to be on the job for at least two years during the 10 years preceding the date of the last exposure, or for any five of the 15 years preceding the last exposure, the law reads.
Some 34 other states have similar "rebuttable presumption" laws for firefighters.
The law expires in 2023, unless extended by the Legislature.
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