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HB 1620

PEN CD-DNST FIRE-OCC DISEASE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Gregg Johnson and 1 co-sponsor

Illinois bill establishes presumptive occupational disease coverage for firefighters, automatically linking certain illnesses to job duties for pension and disability benefits.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1620

Legislative bill overview

HB 1620 addresses presumptive occupational disease coverage for firefighters in Illinois' pension system, specifically related to CD-DNST (Communicable Disease) and fire-related illnesses. The bill appears to establish or modify workers' compensation and pension benefits for firefighters diagnosed with occupational diseases contracted during their service.

Why is this important

Firefighters face elevated occupational health risks including exposure to carcinogens, smoke inhalation, and communicable diseases. This bill determines whether firefighters can receive pension and disability benefits without having to prove direct causation between their disease and their specific job duties—a significant financial protection for affected officers and their families.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Presumptive disease coverage expands pension liabilities, potentially increasing municipal contributions to firefighter pension funds, which are already stressed in many Illinois jurisdictions
  • Scope of covered diseases: Determining which specific diseases qualify as presumptively occupational (particularly for communicable diseases) involves medical and actuarial debate
  • Burden of proof standards: Shifts disease causation burden from employees (who must prove job-caused illness) to employers/pension systems (who must assume occupational origin)

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

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