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H 4012

An Act relative to ensuring access to neurological disorder screenings for firefighters

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bruce Ayers

Mandatory neurological screenings for full-time firefighters every 3 years (initial within 3 years), at no cost to workers, funded by employers' health plans.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4960
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Bill Summary · H 4012

Summary: H.4012 – An Act relative to ensuring access to neurological disorder screenings for firefighters

Bill at a glance

  • Bill Number: H.4012
  • Title: An Act relative to ensuring access to neurological disorder screenings for firefighters
  • Introduced: April 10, 2025
  • Sponsor: Rep. Bruce J. Ayers (Quincy)
  • Committee Action: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services (April 10, 2025); Senate concurrence noted on April 14, 2025
  • Hearing: Scheduled for September 17, 2025, 12:30 PM–4:30 PM in Gardner Auditorium
  • Related bill: HD 1191 (replaces)

What the bill would do

  • Mandatory neurological screenings for firefighters. The bill would add a new Section 91 to Chapter 48 of the General Laws. It requires full-time firefighters employed by cities, towns, fire or water districts, or the Commonwealth to receive a neurological disorder screening conducted by a physician:

    • Initial screening: no later than 3 years after beginning employment as a firefighter.
    • Ongoing screenings: every 3 years during the course of their employment.

  • Who is covered. In addition to standard municipal and state fire departments, the bill explicitly covers:

    • Massachusetts Military Reservation Fire Department
    • 104th Fighter Wing Fire Department
    • Devens Fire Department (established under Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1993)
    • Fire districts including: Massachusetts Port Authority, Massachusetts Military Reservation, Barnes Air National Guard Base, and Devens Regional Enterprise Zone (as established under Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1993)

  • Screening content. The screenings must cover, at a minimum, evaluations for the following neurological disorders (where applicable):

    • ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
    • Alzheimer’s disease
    • Brain tumor
    • Cerebral palsy
    • Dementia
    • Epilepsy
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Stroke

  • Cost coverage. All costs for these screenings must be borne by the firefighter’s health care benefits plan or the employer-provided health program. The bill enforces no out-of-pocket expense (no copay, deductible, coinsurance, or other charges) for these examinations, under the applicable health plans.

Who would be affected

  • Full-time, paid firefighters in the covered municipalities, districts, and specified departments.
  • Fire departments and districts would be responsible for arranging and funding the screenings through existing health care benefits or employer programs.

Timing and implementation considerations

  • Effective date: Not specified in the text provided; the schedule of implementation would generally follow enactment and regulatory guidance.
  • Administration: The bill does not specify a governing agency or clinic network for the screenings beyond requiring physician-conducted exams. Details on screening frequency, exemptions, or data handling are not provided.
  • Process: Following enactment, local fire departments would need to integrate scheduling into employee health programs and ensure compliance with the no-cost requirement.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Improves early detection of neurological disorders among firefighters, potentially improving outcomes and workforce health.
  • Shifts screening costs entirely to employer-provided health plans, reducing financial barriers for firefighters.
  • Administrative considerations include coordinating with multiple departments and ensuring consistent implementation across public entities.

Notes

  • The bill is identified as House No. 4012 (H 4012) and is related to HD 1191, which it replaces in some contexts.
  • A hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2025, allowing stakeholders to comment on scope, feasibility, and funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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