By Bob Katzen
The House gave initial approval to a bill that would allow public safety personnel with impaired health, presumed to have suffered in the line of duty, to submit an affidavit attesting that he or she did undergo a physical examination on entry into service, if their employer failed to maintain such records.
“Public safety personnel like police and firefighters that are injured in the line of duty or suffer illness due to their occupation shouldn’t have to jump through hoops or navigate red tape if their employer fails to maintain proper medical records documenting their service,” said sponsor Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough). “I am proud to have filed this legislation to help relieve public safety officials of the undue burden of proving an occupational presumption when through no fault of their own, their medical records have been lost or damaged by their employing department.