HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1727        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James K. Hawkins

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to maintenance of physical examinations records for public safety personnel.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1727        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to maintenance of physical examinations records for public safety personnel.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SUMMARY: Amends provisions related to disability retirement benefits for employees of fire departments and public safety employees resulting from various forms of cancer or lung and respiratory diseases; entitles employees whose employers failed to maintain a record of the member’s physical examination on entry into service, to submit an affidavit attesting to such examination; defines said affidavits as satisfactory proof of such exams in determining whether illness or disability was sustained in the line of duty.

TEXT:

SECTION 1. Section 94 of chapter 32 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the first paragraph the following:-

If the member’s employer failed to maintain a record of the member’s physical examination on entry into service, the member or employer may submit an affidavit attesting that the member did undergo such an examination and that the examination failed to reveal evidence of such condition. This affidavit shall constitute satisfactory evidence that the member underwent such a physical.

SECTION 2. Section 94A of said chapter 32 is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of the section:-

If the member’s employer failed to maintain a record of the member’s physical examination on entry into service, the member or employer may submit an affidavit attesting that the member did undergo such an examination and that the examination failed to reveal evidence of such condition. This affidavit shall constitute satisfactory evidence that the member underwent such a physical.

SECTION 3. Section 94B of said chapter 32 is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of the first paragraph:-

If the member’s employer failed to maintain a record of the member’s physical examination on entry into service, the member or employer may submit an affidavit attesting that the member did undergo such an examination and that the examination failed to reveal evidence of such condition. This affidavit shall constitute satisfactory evidence that the member underwent such a physical.