AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOTIFICATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AFTER EXPOSURE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES (Amends the definition of infectious diseases to include the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and would include emergency medical technicians eligible for benefits.)

H7186

2026 -- H 7186
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LC004111
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOTIFICATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE
OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AFTER EXPOSURE TO
INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Introduced By:
Representatives Edwards, Bennett, Casey, Alzate, Casimiro, Potter,
Kennedy, Carson, and Fogarty

Date Introduced:
January 21, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 23-28.36-1, 23-28.36-2 and 23-28.36-4 of the General Laws in
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Chapter 23-28.36 entitled "Notification of Fire Fighters, Police Officers and Emergency Medical
3
Technicians After Exposure to Infectious Diseases" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-28.36-1. Legislative findings.
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The general assembly finds and declares that by reason of their employment, fire fighters,
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police officers, and emergency medical technicians are required to work in the midst of, and are
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subject to, exposure to infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency
8
virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV),
and
hepatitis C virus (HCV) )
, and coronavirus disease 2019
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(COVID-19)
; that after exposure, fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians
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are not informed of the exposures; that fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical
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technicians so exposed can potentially and unwittingly expose coworkers, families, and members
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of the public to infectious diseases. The general assembly further finds and declares that all the
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aforementioned conditions exist and arise out of or in the course of employment.
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23-28.36-2. Definitions.
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The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings herein
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ascribed:
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(1) “Contagious disease” means an infectious disease.
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(2) “Disability” means a condition of physical incapacity to perform any assigned duty or

1
duties in the fire department or emergency medical service.
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(3) “Emergency medical technician” means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 4.1 of
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this title to provide emergency medical services.
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(4) “Fire department” means service groups (paid or volunteer) that are organized and
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trained for the prevention and control of loss of life and property from fire or other emergency.
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(5) “Fire fighter” means an individual who is assigned to fire fighting activity and is
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required to respond to alarms and perform emergency action at the location of a fire, hazardous
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materials, or other emergency incident.
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(6) “Infectious disease” means interruption, cessation, or disorder of body functions,
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systems, or organs transmissible by association with the sick or their secretions or excretions,
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excluding the common cold. Infectious disease includes, but is not limited to, human
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immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV),
and
hepatitis C virus (HCV) )
, and
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coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
.
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(7) “Licensed facility” means a hospital, nursing home, dialysis center, physician’s office
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operatory, or the like, as may be licensed by the state to provide medical care.
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(8) “Police officer” means any permanently employed city or town police officer, state
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police officer, committing squad member, or other permanent law enforcement officer as defined
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in § 12-7-21; provided, however, this shall not include the highest ranking officer of any of the
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departments.
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(9) “Strike force member” means any member of the statewide strike force of the
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department of attorney general.
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23-28.36-4.
Occupational disability for fire fighters
Occupational disability of fire
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fighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians.
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Any active fire fighter
or
,
police officer
or emergency medical technician
who is unable to
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perform his or her duties in his or her department by reason of exposure to infectious disease as
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defined in § 23-28.36-2, which infectious disease develops or manifests itself as a result of the
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exposure during a period while the fire fighter
or
,
police officer
or emergency medical technician

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is in the service of the department, shall be entitled to receive an occupational disability, and he or
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she shall be entitled to all of the benefits provided for in
chapter 19 of title 45

chapters 19, 21 and
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21.2 of title 45
, as applicable
, and chapter 10 of title 36, as applicable if the fire fighter, police
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officer or emergency medical technician is employed by the state
.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOTIFICATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE
OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AFTER EXPOSURE TO
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
***
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This act amends the definition of infectious diseases to include the coronavirus disease
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2019 (COVID-19) and would include emergency medical technicians eligible for benefits.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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