Bill Text: OH HB246 | 2009-2010 | 128th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: To provide that a firefighter, police officer, or public emergency medical services worker who is disabled as a result of specified types of cancer or certain contagious or infectious diseases is presumed for purposes of the laws governing workers' compensation and the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund to have incurred the disease while performing official duties as a firefighter, police officer, or public emergency medical services worker.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-06-30 - To Aging & Disability Services [HB246 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2009-HB246-Introduced.html
As Introduced

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
H. B. No. 246


Representatives Yuko, Stewart 

Cosponsors: Representatives Garland, Mallory, Pillich, Hagan, Murray, Foley, Patten, Luckie, Lundy, Winburn, Boyd, Chandler, Slesnick, Letson, Snitchler, Oelslager 



A BILL
To amend sections 742.38, 4123.57, and 4123.68 of the1
Revised Code to provide that a firefighter, police 2
officer, or public emergency medical services 3
worker who is disabled as a result of specified 4
types of cancer or certain contagious or5
infectious diseases is presumed for purposes of6
the laws governing workers' compensation and the7
Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund to have 8
incurred the disease while performing official 9
duties as a firefighter, police officer, or 10
public emergency medical services worker.11


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. That sections 742.38, 4123.57, and 4123.68 of the12
Revised Code be amended to read as follows:13

       Sec. 742.38.  (A)(1) The board of trustees of the Ohio police 14
and fire pension fund shall adopt rules establishing minimum 15
medical testing and diagnostic standards or procedures to be 16
incorporated into physical examinations administered by physicians17
to prospective members of the fund. The standards or procedures 18
shall include diagnosis and evaluation of the existence of any 19
heart disease, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory disease. The20
rules shall specify the form of the physician's report and the21
information to be included in it.22

       The board shall notify all employers of the establishment of23
the minimum standards or procedures and shall include with the24
notice a copy of the standards or procedures. The board shall25
notify all employers of any changes made to the standards or26
procedures. Once the standards or procedures take effect,27
employers shall cause each prospective member of the fund to28
submit to a physical examination that incorporates the standards29
or procedures.30

       (2) Division (A)(2) of this section applies to an employee31
who becomes a member of the fund on or after the date the minimum32
standards or procedures described in division (A)(1) of this33
section take effect. For each employee described in division34
(A)(2) of this section, the employer shall forward to the board a35
copy of the physician's report of a physical examination that36
incorporates the standards or procedures described in division37
(A)(1) of this section. If an employer fails to forward the report38
in the form required by the board on or before the date that is 39
sixty days after the employee becomes a member of the fund, the 40
board shall assess against the employer a penalty determined under41
section 742.353 of the Revised Code.42

       (B) Application for a disability benefit may be made by a43
member of the fund or, if the member is incapacitated as defined44
in rules adopted by the board, by a person acting on the member's45
behalf. Not later than fourteen days after receiving an46
application for a disability benefit from a member or a person47
acting on behalf of a member, the board shall notify the member's48
employer that an application has been filed. The notice shall49
state the member's position or rank. Not later than twenty-eight50
days after receiving the notice or filing an application on behalf51
of a member, the employer shall forward to the board a statement52
certifying the member's job description and any other information53
required by the board to process the application.54

       If the member applying for a disability benefit becomes a55
member of the fund prior to the date the minimum standards or56
procedures described in division (A)(1) of this section take57
effect, the board may request from the member's employer a copy of58
the physician's report of the member's physical examination taken59
on entry into the police or fire department or, if the employer60
does not have a copy of the report, a written statement certifying61
that the employer does not have a copy of the report. If an62
employer fails to forward the report or statement in the form63
required by the board on or before the date that is twenty-eight64
days after the date of the request, the board shall assess against65
the employer a penalty determined under section 742.353 of the66
Revised Code. The board shall maintain the information submitted67
under this division and division (A)(2) of this section in the68
member's file.69

       (C) For purposes of determining under division (D) of this70
section whether a member of the fund is disabled, the board shall71
adopt rules establishing objective criteria under which the board72
shall make the determination. The rules shall include standards73
that provide for all of the following:74

       (1) Evaluating a member's illness or injury on which an75
application for disability benefits is based;76

       (2) Defining the occupational duties of a police officer or77
firefighter;78

       (3) Providing for the board to assign competent and79
disinterested physicians and vocational evaluators to conduct80
examinations of a member;81

       (4) Requiring a written report for each disability82
application that includes a summary of findings, medical opinions,83
including an opinion on whether the illness or injury upon which84
the member's application for disability benefits is based was85
caused or induced by the actual performance of the member's86
official duties, and any recommendations or comments based on the87
medical opinions;88

       (5) Providing for the board to consider the member's89
potential for retraining or reemployment.90

       (D) This division does not apply to members of the fund who91
have elected to receive benefits and pensions in accordance with92
division (A) or (B) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code or from93
a police relief and pension fund or a firemen's relief and pension94
fund in accordance with the rules of that fund in force on April95
1, 1947.96

       (1) As used in division (D)(1) of this section:97

       (a) "Totally disabled" means a member of the fund is unable98
to perform the duties of any gainful occupation for which the99
member is reasonably fitted by training, experience, and100
accomplishments. Absolute helplessness is not a prerequisite of101
being totally disabled.102

       (b) "Permanently disabled" means a condition of disability103
from which there is no present indication of recovery.104

       A member of the fund who is permanently and totally disabled105
as the result of the performance of the member's official duties106
as a member of a police or fire department shall be paid annual107
disability benefits in accordance with division (A) of section108
742.39 of the Revised Code. In determining whether a member of the 109
fund is permanently and totally disabled, the board shall consider 110
standards adopted under division (C) of this section applicable to 111
the determination.112

       (2) A member of the fund who is partially disabled as the113
result of the performance of the member's official duties as a114
member of a police or fire department shall, if the disability115
prevents the member from performing those duties and impairs the116
member's earning capacity, receive annual disability benefits in117
accordance with division (B) of section 742.39 of the Revised118
Code. In determining whether a member of the fund is partially119
disabled, the board shall consider standards adopted under120
division (C) of this section applicable to the determination.121

       (3)(a) A member of the fund who is disabled as a result of122
heart disease or any cardiovascular or respiratory disease of a123
chronic nature, which disease or any evidence of which disease was124
not revealed by the physical examination passed by the member on125
entry into the department, is presumed to have incurred the126
disease while performing the member's official duties, unless the127
contrary is shown by competent evidence.128

       (b) A member of the fund who is a member of a police 129
department or who is a member of a fire department who has been 130
assigned to at least three years of hazard duty as a member of a 131
fire department, and is disabled as a result of any of the 132
following types of cancer or disease, is presumed to have 133
incurred the cancer or disease while performing the member's 134
official duties:135

       (i) Cancer of the lung, brain, kidney, bladder, rectum, 136
stomach, skin, or prostate;137

       (ii) Non-Hodgkins lymphoma;138

       (iii) Leukemia;139

       (iv) Multiple myeloma;140

       (v) Testicular or colorectal cancer; 141

       (vi) A contagious or infectious disease specified in rules 142
adopted pursuant to division (F) of section 3701.248 of the 143
Revised Code.144

       The presumption described in division (D)(3)(b) of this 145
section does not apply if competent evidence to the contrary of 146
the presumption is shown or if the cancer or disease that resulted 147
in a member's disability, or any evidence of that cancer or 148
disease, was revealed by the physical examination passed by the 149
member on entry into the department.150

       (4) A member of the fund who has completed five or more years 151
of active service in a police or fire department and has incurred 152
a disability not caused or induced by the actual performance of 153
the member's official duties as a member of the department, or by 154
the member's own negligence, shall if the disability prevents the 155
member from performing those duties and impairs the member's156
earning capacity, receive annual disability benefits in accordance 157
with division (C) of section 742.39 of the Revised Code. In 158
determining whether a member of the fund is disabled, the board 159
shall consider standards adopted under division (C) of this 160
section applicable to the determination.161

       (5) The board shall notify a member of its final action162
awarding a disability benefit to the member within thirty days of163
the final action. The notice shall be sent by certified mail,164
return receipt requested. Not later than ninety days after receipt 165
of notice from the board, the member shall elect, on a form 166
provided by the board, either to accept or waive the disability 167
benefit award. If the member elects to waive the disability 168
benefit award or fails to make an election within the time period, 169
the award is rescinded. A member who later seeks a disability 170
benefit award shall be required to make a new application, which 171
shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedures used for 172
original disability benefit applications.173

       A person is not eligible to apply for or receive disability174
benefits under this division, section 742.39 of the Revised Code,175
or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of176
the Revised Code unless the person is a member of the fund on the177
date on which the application for disability benefits is submitted178
to the fund.179

       With the exception of persons who may make application for180
increased benefits as provided in division (D)(2) or (4) of this181
section or division (C)(3) or (5) of former section 742.37 of the182
Revised Code on or after July 24, 1986, or persons who may make183
application for benefits as provided in section 742.26 of the184
Revised Code, no person receiving a pension or benefit under this185
section or division (C) of former section 742.37 of the Revised186
Code may apply for any new, changed, or different benefit.187

       Sec. 4123.57.  Partial disability compensation shall be paid 188
as follows.189

       Except as provided in this section, not earlier than 190
twenty-six weeks after the date of termination of the latest 191
period of payments under section 4123.56 of the Revised Code, or 192
not earlier than twenty-six weeks after the date of the injury or193
contraction of an occupational disease in the absence of payments194
under section 4123.56 of the Revised Code, the employee may file 195
an application with the bureau of workers' compensation for the 196
determination of the percentage of the employee's permanent 197
partial disability resulting from an injury or occupational 198
disease.199

       Whenever the application is filed, the bureau shall send a200
copy of the application to the employee's employer or the201
employer's representative and shall schedule the employee for a202
medical examination by the bureau medical section. The bureau203
shall send a copy of the report of the medical examination to the204
employee, the employer, and their representatives. Thereafter, the205
administrator of workers' compensation shall review the employee's 206
claim file and make a tentative order as the evidence before the 207
administrator at the time of the making of the order warrants. If 208
the administrator determines that there is a conflict of evidence, 209
the administrator shall send the application, along with the 210
claimant's file, to the district hearing officer who shall set the 211
application for a hearing.212

       The administrator shall notify the employee, the employer,213
and their representatives, in writing, of the tentative order and214
of the parties' right to request a hearing. Unless the employee,215
the employer, or their representative notifies the administrator,216
in writing, of an objection to the tentative order within twenty217
days after receipt of the notice thereof, the tentative order218
shall go into effect and the employee shall receive the219
compensation provided in the order. In no event shall there be a220
reconsideration of a tentative order issued under this division.221

       If the employee, the employer, or their representatives222
timely notify the administrator of an objection to the tentative223
order, the matter shall be referred to a district hearing officer224
who shall set the application for hearing with written notices to225
all interested persons. Upon referral to a district hearing 226
officer, the employer may obtain a medical examination of the 227
employee, pursuant to rules of the industrial commission.228

       (A) The district hearing officer, upon the application, shall 229
determine the percentage of the employee's permanent disability, 230
except as is subject to division (B) of this section, based upon 231
that condition of the employee resulting from the injury or 232
occupational disease and causing permanent impairment evidenced by 233
medical or clinical findings reasonably demonstrable. The employee 234
shall receive sixty-six and two-thirds per cent of the employee's 235
average weekly wage, but not more than a maximum of thirty-three 236
and one-third per cent of the statewide average weekly wage as 237
defined in division (C) of section 4123.62 of the Revised Code, 238
per week regardless of the average weekly wage, for the number of 239
weeks which equals the percentage of two hundred weeks. Except on 240
application for reconsideration, review, or modification, which is 241
filed within ten days after the date of receipt of the decision of 242
the district hearing officer, in no instance shall the former 243
award be modified unless it is found from medical or clinical 244
findings that the condition of the claimant resulting from the 245
injury has so progressed as to have increased the percentage of 246
permanent partial disability. A staff hearing officer shall hear 247
an application for reconsideration filed and the staff hearing 248
officer's decision is final. An employee may file an application 249
for a subsequent determination of the percentage of the employee's 250
permanent disability. If such an application is filed, the bureau 251
shall send a copy of the application to the employer or the 252
employer's representative. No sooner than sixty days from the date 253
of the mailing of the application to the employer or the 254
employer's representative, the administrator shall review the 255
application. The administrator may require a medical examination 256
or medical review of the employee. The administrator shall issue a 257
tentative order based upon the evidence before the administrator, 258
provided that if the administrator requires a medical examination 259
or medical review, the administrator shall not issue the tentative 260
order until the completion of the examination or review.261

       The employer may obtain a medical examination of the employee 262
and may submit medical evidence at any stage of the process up to 263
a hearing before the district hearing officer, pursuant to rules 264
of the commission. The administrator shall notify the employee, 265
the employer, and their representatives, in writing, of the nature 266
and amount of any tentative order issued on an application 267
requesting a subsequent determination of the percentage of an 268
employee's permanent disability. An employee, employer, or their 269
representatives may object to the tentative order within twenty 270
days after the receipt of the notice thereof. If no timely 271
objection is made, the tentative order shall go into effect. In no 272
event shall there be a reconsideration of a tentative order issued 273
under this division. If an objection is timely made, the 274
application for a subsequent determination shall be referred to a 275
district hearing officer who shall set the application for a 276
hearing with written notice to all interested persons. No 277
application for subsequent percentage determinations on the same 278
claim for injury or occupational disease shall be accepted for 279
review by the district hearing officer unless supported by 280
substantial evidence of new and changed circumstances developing 281
since the time of the hearing on the original or last 282
determination.283

       No award shall be made under this division based upon a284
percentage of disability which, when taken with all other 285
percentages of permanent disability, exceeds one hundred per cent. 286
If the percentage of the permanent disability of the employee 287
equals or exceeds ninety per cent, compensation for permanent 288
partial disability shall be paid for two hundred weeks.289

       Compensation payable under this division accrues and is290
payable to the employee from the date of last payment of291
compensation, or, in cases where no previous compensation has been 292
paid, from the date of the injury or the date of the diagnosis of 293
the occupational disease.294

       When an award under this division has been made prior to the 295
death of an employee, all unpaid installments accrued or to accrue 296
under the provisions of the award are payable to the surviving 297
spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to the dependent 298
children of the employee, and if there are no children surviving, 299
then to other dependents as the administrator determines.300

       (B) In cases included in the following schedule the301
compensation payable per week to the employee is the statewide302
average weekly wage as defined in division (C) of section 4123.62303
of the Revised Code per week and shall continue during the periods 304
provided in the following schedule:305

       For the loss of a first finger, commonly known as a thumb, 306
sixty weeks.307

       For the loss of a second finger, commonly called index308
finger, thirty-five weeks.309

       For the loss of a third finger, thirty weeks.310

       For the loss of a fourth finger, twenty weeks.311

       For the loss of a fifth finger, commonly known as the little 312
finger, fifteen weeks.313

       The loss of a second, or distal, phalange of the thumb is314
considered equal to the loss of one half of such thumb; the loss315
of more than one half of such thumb is considered equal to the316
loss of the whole thumb.317

       The loss of the third, or distal, phalange of any finger is318
considered equal to the loss of one-third of the finger.319

       The loss of the middle, or second, phalange of any finger is 320
considered equal to the loss of two-thirds of the finger.321

       The loss of more than the middle and distal phalanges of any 322
finger is considered equal to the loss of the whole finger. In no 323
case shall the amount received for more than one finger exceed the 324
amount provided in this schedule for the loss of a hand.325

       For the loss of the metacarpal bone (bones of the palm) for326
the corresponding thumb, or fingers, add ten weeks to the number327
of weeks under this division.328

       For ankylosis (total stiffness of) or contractures (due to329
scars or injuries) which makes any of the fingers, thumbs, or330
parts of either useless, the same number of weeks apply to the331
members or parts thereof as given for the loss thereof.332

       If the claimant has suffered the loss of two or more fingers 333
by amputation or ankylosis and the nature of the claimant's 334
employment in the course of which the claimant was working at the 335
time of the injury or occupational disease is such that the336
handicap or disability resulting from the loss of fingers, or loss 337
of use of fingers, exceeds the normal handicap or disability338
resulting from the loss of fingers, or loss of use of fingers, the 339
administrator may take that fact into consideration and increase 340
the award of compensation accordingly, but the award made shall 341
not exceed the amount of compensation for loss of a hand.342

       For the loss of a hand, one hundred seventy-five weeks.343

       For the loss of an arm, two hundred twenty-five weeks.344

       For the loss of a great toe, thirty weeks.345

       For the loss of one of the toes other than the great toe, ten 346
weeks.347

       The loss of more than two-thirds of any toe is considered348
equal to the loss of the whole toe.349

       The loss of less than two-thirds of any toe is considered no 350
loss, except as to the great toe; the loss of the great toe up to 351
the interphalangeal joint is co-equal to the loss of one-half of 352
the great toe; the loss of the great toe beyond the353
interphalangeal joint is considered equal to the loss of the whole 354
great toe.355

       For the loss of a foot, one hundred fifty weeks.356

       For the loss of a leg, two hundred weeks.357

       For the loss of the sight of an eye, one hundred twenty-five 358
weeks.359

       For the permanent partial loss of sight of an eye, the360
portion of one hundred twenty-five weeks as the administrator in361
each case determines, based upon the percentage of vision actually 362
lost as a result of the injury or occupational disease, but, in no 363
case shall an award of compensation be made for less than 364
twenty-five per cent loss of uncorrected vision. "Loss of365
uncorrected vision" means the percentage of vision actually lost366
as the result of the injury or occupational disease.367

       For the permanent and total loss of hearing of one ear,368
twenty-five weeks; but in no case shall an award of compensation369
be made for less than permanent and total loss of hearing of one370
ear.371

       For the permanent and total loss of hearing, one hundred372
twenty-five weeks; but, except pursuant to the next preceding373
paragraph, in no case shall an award of compensation be made for374
less than permanent and total loss of hearing.375

       In case an injury or occupational disease results in serious 376
facial or head disfigurement which either impairs or may in the 377
future impair the opportunities to secure or retain employment, 378
the administrator shall make an award of compensation as it deems 379
proper and equitable, in view of the nature of the disfigurement, 380
and not to exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars. For the 381
purpose of making the award, it is not material whether the 382
employee is gainfully employed in any occupation or trade at the 383
time of the administrator's determination.384

       When an award under this division has been made prior to the 385
death of an employee all unpaid installments accrued or to accrue 386
under the provisions of the award shall be payable to the387
surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to the388
dependent children of the employee and if there are no such389
children, then to such dependents as the administrator determines.390

       When an employee has sustained the loss of a member by391
severance, but no award has been made on account thereof prior to392
the employee's death, the administrator shall make an award in 393
accordance with this division for the loss which shall be payable 394
to the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to 395
the dependent children of the employee and if there are no such396
children, then to such dependents as the administrator determines.397

       (C) Compensation for partial impairment under divisions (A) 398
and (B) of this section is in addition to the compensation paid 399
the employee pursuant to section 4123.56 of the Revised Code. A 400
claimant may receive compensation under divisions (A) and (B) of 401
this section.402

       In all cases arising under division (B) of this section, if403
it is determined by any one of the following: (1) the amputee404
clinic at University hospital, Ohio state university; (2) the405
rehabilitation services commission; (3) an amputee clinic or406
prescribing physician approved by the administrator or the407
administrator's designee, that an injured or disabled employee is 408
in need of an artificial appliance, or in need of a repair 409
thereof, regardless of whether the appliance or its repair will be 410
serviceable in the vocational rehabilitation of the injured 411
employee, and regardless of whether the employee has returned to 412
or can ever again return to any gainful employment, the bureau 413
shall pay the cost of the artificial appliance or its repair out 414
of the surplus created by division (B) of section 4123.34 of the 415
Revised Code.416

       In those cases where a rehabilitation services commission417
recommendation that an injured or disabled employee is in need of418
an artificial appliance would conflict with their state plan,419
adopted pursuant to the "Rehabilitation Act of 1973," 87 Stat.420
355, 29 U.S.C.A. 701, the administrator or the administrator's 421
designee or the bureau may obtain a recommendation from an amputee 422
clinic or prescribing physician that they determine appropriate.423

       (D) If an employee of a state fund employer makes application 424
for a finding and the administrator finds that the employee has 425
contracted silicosis as defined in division (X)(Y), or coal426
miners' pneumoconiosis as defined in division (Y)(Z), or 427
asbestosis as defined in division (AA)(BB) of section 4123.68 of 428
the Revised Code, and that a change of such employee's occupation 429
is medically advisable in order to decrease substantially further 430
exposure to silica dust, asbestos, or coal dust and if the 431
employee, after the finding, has changed or shall change the 432
employee's occupation to an occupation in which the exposure to 433
silica dust, asbestos, or coal dust is substantially decreased, 434
the administrator shall allow to the employee an amount equal to 435
fifty per cent of the statewide average weekly wage per week for a 436
period of thirty weeks, commencing as of the date of the 437
discontinuance or change, and for a period of one hundred weeks 438
immediately following the expiration of the period of thirty 439
weeks, the employee shall receive sixty-six and two-thirds per 440
cent of the loss of wages resulting directly and solely from the 441
change of occupation but not to exceed a maximum of an amount 442
equal to fifty per cent of the statewide average weekly wage per 443
week. No such employee is entitled to receive more than one 444
allowance on account of discontinuance of employment or change of 445
occupation and benefits shall cease for any period during which 446
the employee is employed in an occupation in which the exposure to 447
silica dust, asbestos, or coal dust is not substantially less than 448
the exposure in the occupation in which the employee was formerly449
employed or for any period during which the employee may be 450
entitled to receive compensation or benefits under section 4123.68 451
of the Revised Code on account of disability from silicosis, 452
asbestosis, or coal miners' pneumoconiosis. An award for change of453
occupation for a coal miner who has contracted coal miners'454
pneumoconiosis may be granted under this division even though the455
coal miner continues employment with the same employer, so long as 456
the coal miner's employment subsequent to the change is such that 457
the coal miner's exposure to coal dust is substantially decreased 458
and a change of occupation is certified by the claimant as 459
permanent. The administrator may accord to the employee medical 460
and other benefits in accordance with section 4123.66 of the 461
Revised Code.462

       (E) If a firefighter or police officer makes application for 463
a finding and the administrator finds that the firefighter or 464
police officer has contracted a cardiovascular and pulmonary 465
disease as defined in division (W) of section 4123.68 of the 466
Revised Code, and that a change of the firefighter's or police 467
officer's occupation is medically advisable in order to decrease 468
substantially further exposure to smoke, toxic gases, chemical 469
fumes, and other toxic vapors, and if the firefighter, or police 470
officer, after the finding, has changed or changes occupation to 471
an occupation in which the exposure to smoke, toxic gases, 472
chemical fumes, and other toxic vapors is substantially decreased, 473
the administrator shall allow to the firefighter or police officer 474
an amount equal to fifty per cent of the statewide average weekly 475
wage per week for a period of thirty weeks, commencing as of the 476
date of the discontinuance or change, and for a period of 477
seventy-five weeks immediately following the expiration of the 478
period of thirty weeks the administrator shall allow the 479
firefighter or police officer sixty-six and two-thirds per cent of 480
the loss of wages resulting directly and solely from the change of 481
occupation but not to exceed a maximum of an amount equal to fifty 482
per cent of the statewide average weekly wage per week. No such483
firefighter or police officer is entitled to receive more than one 484
allowance on account of discontinuance of employment or change of485
occupation and benefits shall cease for any period during which486
the firefighter or police officer is employed in an occupation in 487
which the exposure to smoke, toxic gases, chemical fumes, and488
other toxic vapors is not substantially less than the exposure in489
the occupation in which the firefighter or police officer was 490
formerly employed or for any period during which the firefighter 491
or police officer may be entitled to receive compensation or 492
benefits under section 4123.68 of the Revised Code on account of 493
disability from a cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. The 494
administrator may accord to the firefighter or police officer 495
medical and other benefits in accordance with section 4123.66 of 496
the Revised Code.497

       (F) An order issued under this section is appealable pursuant 498
to section 4123.511 of the Revised Code but is not appealable to 499
court under section 4123.512 of the Revised Code.500

       Sec. 4123.68.  Every employee who is disabled because of the501
contraction of an occupational disease or the dependent of an502
employee whose death is caused by an occupational disease, is503
entitled to the compensation provided by sections 4123.55 to504
4123.59 and 4123.66 of the Revised Code subject to the505
modifications relating to occupational diseases contained in this506
chapter. An order of the administrator issued under this section507
is appealable pursuant to sections 4123.511 and 4123.512 of the508
Revised Code.509

       The following diseases are occupational diseases and510
compensable as such when contracted by an employee in the course511
of the employment in which such employee was engaged and due to512
the nature of any process described in this section. A disease513
which meets the definition of an occupational disease is514
compensable pursuant to this chapter though it is not specifically515
listed in this section.516

SCHEDULE
517

       Description of disease or injury and description of process:518

       (A) Anthrax: Handling of wool, hair, bristles, hides, and519
skins.520

       (B) Glanders: Care of any equine animal suffering from521
glanders; handling carcass of such animal.522

       (C) Lead poisoning: Any industrial process involving the use 523
of lead or its preparations or compounds.524

       (D) Mercury poisoning: Any industrial process involving the525
use of mercury or its preparations or compounds.526

       (E) Phosphorous poisoning: Any industrial process involving527
the use of phosphorous or its preparations or compounds.528

       (F) Arsenic poisoning: Any industrial process involving the529
use of arsenic or its preparations or compounds.530

       (G) Poisoning by benzol or by nitro-derivatives and531
amido-derivatives of benzol (dinitro-benzol, anilin, and others):532
Any industrial process involving the use of benzol or533
nitro-derivatives or amido-derivatives of benzol or its534
preparations or compounds.535

       (H) Poisoning by gasoline, benzine, naphtha, or other536
volatile petroleum products: Any industrial process involving the537
use of gasoline, benzine, naphtha, or other volatile petroleum538
products.539

       (I) Poisoning by carbon bisulphide: Any industrial process540
involving the use of carbon bisulphide or its preparations or541
compounds.542

       (J) Poisoning by wood alcohol: Any industrial process543
involving the use of wood alcohol or its preparations.544

       (K) Infection or inflammation of the skin on contact surfaces 545
due to oils, cutting compounds or lubricants, dust, liquids, 546
fumes, gases, or vapors: Any industrial process involving the 547
handling or use of oils, cutting compounds or lubricants, or 548
involving contact with dust, liquids, fumes, gases, or vapors.549

       (L) Epithelion cancer or ulceration of the skin or of the550
corneal surface of the eye due to carbon, pitch, tar, or tarry551
compounds: Handling or industrial use of carbon, pitch, or tarry552
compounds.553

       (M) Compressed air illness: Any industrial process carried on 554
in compressed air.555

       (N) Carbon dioxide poisoning: Any process involving the556
evolution or resulting in the escape of carbon dioxide.557

       (O) Brass or zinc poisoning: Any process involving the558
manufacture, founding, or refining of brass or the melting or559
smelting of zinc.560

       (P) Manganese dioxide poisoning: Any process involving the561
grinding or milling of manganese dioxide or the escape of562
manganese dioxide dust.563

       (Q) Radium poisoning: Any industrial process involving the564
use of radium and other radioactive substances in luminous paint.565

       (R) Tenosynovitis and prepatellar bursitis: Primary566
tenosynovitis characterized by a passive effusion or crepitus into567
the tendon sheath of the flexor or extensor muscles of the hand,568
due to frequently repetitive motions or vibrations, or prepatellar569
bursitis due to continued pressure.570

       (S) Chrome ulceration of the skin or nasal passages: Any571
industrial process involving the use of or direct contact with572
chromic acid or bichromates of ammonium, potassium, or sodium or573
their preparations.574

       (T) Potassium cyanide poisoning: Any industrial process575
involving the use of or direct contact with potassium cyanide.576

       (U) Sulphur dioxide poisoning: Any industrial process in577
which sulphur dioxide gas is evolved by the expansion of liquid578
sulphur dioxide.579

       (V) Berylliosis: Berylliosis means a disease of the lungs580
caused by breathing beryllium in the form of dust or fumes,581
producing characteristic changes in the lungs and demonstrated by582
x-ray examination, by biopsy or by autopsy.583

       This chapter does not entitle an employee or histhe584
employee's dependents to compensation, medical treatment, or585
payment of funeral expenses for disability or death from586
berylliosis unless the employee has been subjected to injurious587
exposure to beryllium dust or fumes in histhe employee's588
employment in this state preceding histhe employee's disablement589
and only in the event of such disability or death resulting within590
eight years after the last injurious exposure; provided that such591
eight-year limitation does not apply to disability or death from592
exposure occurring after January 1, 1976. In the event of death593
following continuous total disability commencing within eight594
years after the last injurious exposure, the requirement of death595
within eight years after the last injurious exposure does not596
apply.597

       Before awarding compensation for partial or total disability598
or death due to berylliosis, the administrator of workers'599
compensation shall refer the claim to a qualified medical600
specialist for examination and recommendation with regard to the601
diagnosis, the extent of the disability, the nature of the602
disability, whether permanent or temporary, the cause of death,603
and other medical questions connected with the claim. An employee604
shall submit to such examinations, including clinical and x-ray605
examinations, as the administrator requires. In the event that an606
employee refuses to submit to examinations, including clinical and607
x-ray examinations, after notice from the administrator, or in the608
event that a claimant for compensation for death due to609
berylliosis fails to produce necessary consents and permits, after610
notice from the administrator, so that such autopsy examination611
and tests may be performed, then all rights for compensation are612
forfeited. The reasonable compensation of such specialist and the613
expenses of examinations and tests shall be paid, if the claim is614
allowed, as part of the expenses of the claim, otherwise they615
shall be paid from the surplus fund.616

       (W) Cardiovascular, pulmonary, or respiratory diseases617
incurred by fire fightersfirefighters or police officers618
following exposure to heat, smoke, toxic gases, chemical fumes and619
other toxic substances: Any cardiovascular, pulmonary, or620
respiratory disease of a fire fighterfirefighter or police621
officer caused or induced by the cumulative effect of exposure to622
heat, the inhalation of smoke, toxic gases, chemical fumes and623
other toxic substances in the performance of histhe firefighter's624
or police officer's duty constitutes a presumption, which may be625
refuted by affirmative evidence, that such occurred in the course626
of and arising out of histhe firefighter's or police officer's627
employment. For the purpose of this section, "fire fighter628
firefighter" means any regular member of a lawfully constituted629
fire department of a municipal corporation or township, whether630
paid or volunteer, and "police officer" means any regular member631
of a lawfully constituted police department of a municipal632
corporation, township or county, whether paid or volunteer.633

       This chapter does not entitle a fire fighterfirefighter, or634
police officer, or histhe firefighter's or police officer's635
dependents to compensation, medical treatment, or payment of636
funeral expenses for disability or death from a cardiovascular,637
pulmonary, or respiratory disease, unless the fire fighter638
firefighter or police officer has been subject to injurious639
exposure to heat, smoke, toxic gases, chemical fumes, and other640
toxic substances in histhe firefighter's or police officer's641
employment in this state preceding histhe firefighter's or police642
officer's disablement, some portion of which has been after643
January 1, 1967, except as provided in division (E) of section644
4123.57 of the Revised Code.645

       Compensation on account of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or646
respiratory diseases of fire fightersfirefighters and police647
officers is payable only in the event of temporary total648
disability, permanent total disability, or death, in accordance649
with section 4123.56, 4123.58, or 4123.59 of the Revised Code.650
Medical, hospital, and nursing expenses are payable in accordance651
with this chapter. Compensation, medical, hospital, and nursing652
expenses are payable only in the event of such disability or death653
resulting within eight years after the last injurious exposure;654
provided that such eight-year limitation does not apply to655
disability or death from exposure occurring after January 1, 1976.656
In the event of death following continuous total disability657
commencing within eight years after the last injurious exposure,658
the requirement of death within eight years after the last659
injurious exposure does not apply.660

       This chapter does not entitle a fire fighterfirefighter or661
police officer, or histhe firefighter's or police officer's662
dependents, to compensation, medical, hospital, and nursing663
expenses, or payment of funeral expenses for disability or death664
due to a cardiovascular, pulmonary, or respiratory disease in the665
event of failure or omission on the part of the fire fighter666
firefighter or police officer truthfully to state, when seeking667
employment, the place, duration, and nature of previous employment668
in answer to an inquiry made by the employer.669

       Before awarding compensation for disability or death under670
this division, the administrator shall refer the claim to a671
qualified medical specialist for examination and recommendation672
with regard to the diagnosis, the extent of disability, the cause673
of death, and other medical questions connected with the claim. A674
fire fighterfirefighter or police officer shall submit to such675
examinations, including clinical and x-ray examinations, as the676
administrator requires. In the event that a fire fighter677
firefighter or police officer refuses to submit to examinations,678
including clinical and x-ray examinations, after notice from the679
administrator, or in the event that a claimant for compensation680
for death under this division fails to produce necessary consents681
and permits, after notice from the administrator, so that such682
autopsy examination and tests may be performed, then all rights683
for compensation are forfeited. The reasonable compensation of684
such specialists and the expenses of examination and tests shall685
be paid, if the claim is allowed, as part of the expenses of the686
claim, otherwise they shall be paid from the surplus fund.687

       (X)(1) Cancer or disease contracted by a firefighter, police 688
officer, or public emergency medical services worker: Any of the 689
following types of cancer or disease contracted by a firefighter, 690
police officer, or public emergency medical services worker who, 691
in the case of a firefighter or public emergency medical services 692
worker, has been assigned at least three years of hazard duty as 693
a firefighter or public emergency medical services worker, 694
constitutes a presumption, which may be refuted by affirmative 695
evidence, that the cancer or disease was contracted in the 696
course of and arising out of the firefighter's, police officer's,697
or public emergency medical services worker's employment:698

       (a) Cancer of the lung, brain, kidney, bladder, rectum, 699
stomach, skin, or prostate;700

       (b) Non-Hodgkins lymphoma;701

       (c) Leukemia;702

       (d) Multiple myeloma;703

       (e) Testicular or colorectal cancer; 704

       (f) A contagious or infectious disease specified in rules 705
adopted pursuant to division (F) of section 3701.248 of the 706
Revised Code.707

       (2) As used in division (X)(1) of this section:708

       (a) "Public emergency medical services worker" means a person 709
who holds a current valid certificate issued under Chapter 4765. 710
of the Revised Code and is a member of a public retirement system.711

       (b) "Public retirement system" has the same meaning as in 712
section 2907.15 of the Revised Code.713

       (Y) Silicosis: Silicosis means a disease of the lungs caused 714
by breathing silica dust (silicon dioxide) producing fibrous 715
nodules distributed through the lungs and demonstrated by x-ray 716
examination, by biopsy or by autopsy.717

       (Y)(Z) Coal miners' pneumoconiosis: Coal miners'718
pneumoconiosis, commonly referred to as "black lung disease,"719
resulting from working in the coal mine industry and due to720
exposure to the breathing of coal dust, and demonstrated by x-ray721
examination, biopsy, autopsy or other medical or clinical tests.722

       This chapter does not entitle an employee or histhe723
employee's dependents to compensation, medical treatment, or724
payment of funeral expenses for disability or death from725
silicosis, asbestosis, or coal miners' pneumoconiosis unless the726
employee has been subject to injurious exposure to silica dust727
(silicon dioxide), asbestos, or coal dust in histhe employee's728
employment in this state preceding histhe employee's disablement,729
some portion of which has been after October 12, 1945, except as730
provided in division (E) of section 4123.57 of the Revised Code.731

       Compensation on account of silicosis, asbestosis, or coal732
miners' pneumoconiosis are payable only in the event of temporary733
total disability, permanent total disability, or death, in734
accordance with sections 4123.56, 4123.58, and 4123.59 of the735
Revised Code. Medical, hospital, and nursing expenses are payable736
in accordance with this chapter. Compensation, medical, hospital,737
and nursing expenses are payable only in the event of such738
disability or death resulting within eight years after the last739
injurious exposure; provided that such eight-year limitation does740
not apply to disability or death occurring after January 1, 1976,741
and further provided that such eight-year limitation does not742
apply to any asbestosis cases. In the event of death following743
continuous total disability commencing within eight years after744
the last injurious exposure, the requirement of death within eight745
years after the last injurious exposure does not apply.746

       This chapter does not entitle an employee or histhe747
employee's dependents to compensation, medical, hospital and748
nursing expenses, or payment of funeral expenses for disability or749
death due to silicosis, asbestosis, or coal miners' pneumoconiosis750
in the event of the failure or omission on the part of the751
employee truthfully to state, when seeking employment, the place,752
duration, and nature of previous employment in answer to an753
inquiry made by the employer.754

       Before awarding compensation for disability or death due to755
silicosis, asbestosis, or coal miners' pneumoconiosis, the756
administrator shall refer the claim to a qualified medical757
specialist for examination and recommendation with regard to the758
diagnosis, the extent of disability, the cause of death, and other759
medical questions connected with the claim. An employee shall760
submit to such examinations, including clinical and x-ray761
examinations, as the administrator requires. In the event that an762
employee refuses to submit to examinations, including clinical and763
x-ray examinations, after notice from the administrator, or in the764
event that a claimant for compensation for death due to silicosis,765
asbestosis, or coal miners' pneumoconiosis fails to produce766
necessary consents and permits, after notice from the commission,767
so that such autopsy examination and tests may be performed, then768
all rights for compensation are forfeited. The reasonable769
compensation of such specialist and the expenses of examinations770
and tests shall be paid, if the claim is allowed, as a part of the771
expenses of the claim, otherwise they shall be paid from the772
surplus fund.773

       (Z)(AA) Radiation illness: Any industrial process involving774
the use of radioactive materials.775

       Claims for compensation and benefits due to radiation illness776
are payable only in the event death or disability occurred within777
eight years after the last injurious exposure provided that such778
eight-year limitation does not apply to disability or death from779
exposure occurring after January 1, 1976. In the event of death780
following continuous disability which commenced within eight years781
of the last injurious exposure the requirement of death within782
eight years after the last injurious exposure does not apply.783

       (AA)(BB) Asbestosis: Asbestosis means a disease caused by784
inhalation or ingestion of asbestos, demonstrated by x-ray785
examination, biopsy, autopsy, or other objective medical or786
clinical tests.787

       All conditions, restrictions, limitations, and other788
provisions of this section, with reference to the payment of789
compensation or benefits on account of silicosis or coal miners'790
pneumoconiosis apply to the payment of compensation or benefits on791
account of any other occupational disease of the respiratory tract792
resulting from injurious exposures to dust.793

       The refusal to produce the necessary consents and permits for794
autopsy examination and testing shall not result in forfeiture of795
compensation provided the administrator finds that such refusal796
was the result of bona fide religious convictions or teachings to797
which the claimant for compensation adhered prior to the death of798
the decedent.799

       Section 2. That existing sections 742.38, 4123.57, and800
4123.68 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.801

       Section 3. The amendment made by this act to section 742.38802
of the Revised Code applies to an application for a disability803
benefit that is filed on or after the effective date of this act.804

       Section 4. The amendments made by this act to sections 805
4123.57 and 4123.68 of the Revised Code apply only to claims 806
pursuant to Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised Code arising 807
on and after the effective date of this act.808

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