The Public Safety & Security Committee favorably reported out HB 6956 regarding special workers’ compensation benefits. This new unfunded mandate is the most costly mandate on municipalities in many decades.

H.B. 6956 would:

1. Establish a special workers’ compensation (WC) presumption for firefighters who contract (1) heart disease and hypertension or (2) certain types of cancer, and
2. Provide a special rebuttable presumption benefit under WC to police officers and firefighters who contract hepatitis, meningoccal meningitis or tuberculosis.

   The Public Safety Committee reported out this mandate by a 14-5 vote to the House floor (see attached for vote tally). Importantly, H.B. 6956 is expected to be referred from the House floor to other committees and will most likely be before the Appropriations Committee soon.

   Your Action Needed

   CCM urges you to contact your state legislator(s) and legislative leaders NOW (see attached for contact information). Pressure them to oppose this costly mandate. Tell them:

   • H.B. 6956 is the granddaddy of unfunded mandates. It is likely the biggest unfunded mandate ever.
   • The H&H mandate is indeed alive and well - towns and cities continue to pay millions of dollars each year for the next 20 years until every police officer and firefighter hired before 7/1/96 retires.
   • In addition to dredging up the $30 million per year H&H mandate, H.B. 6956 would impose two entirely new, hugely costly unfunded state mandates – job-related presumptions for infectious and contagious diseases and certain types of cancer.
   • One infectious and contagious disease claim can cost between $750,000 and $2.5 million.
   • Proponents of H.B. 6956 have not produced any credible medical justification for these special entitlements.
   • H.B. 6956 would negate much of the education-related benefits to towns and cities from the Governor’s proposed FY 09 budget.
   • Push them to commit to oppose this monster mandate.
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   If you have any questions, please contact Bob Labanara or Ron Thomas of CCM at 203/498-3000. Enclosures