City of Philadelphia - File #: 010073

• File #: 010073
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 2/1/2001
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 2/1/2001
• Title: Urging the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact House Bill 35 which adds Hepatitis C to the definition of "occupational disease" and adds "firefighters" and other "emergency services personnel" to the list of occupations associated with Hepatitis.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Cohen, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Mariano, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Clarke, Council President Verna, Council President Verna, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Longstreth, Councilmember Longstreth, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember O'Neill

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
2/1/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
2/1/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
2/1/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Urging the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact House Bill 35 which adds Hepatitis C to the definition of "occupational disease" and adds "firefighters" and other "emergency services personnel" to the list of occupations associated with Hepatitis.
Body
WHEREAS, Seventy one members of the State House from both parties have introduced House Bill 35 which amends the Workers Compensation Act by further adding Hepatitis C to the definition of "occupational disease" and by adding "firefighters" and other "emergency services personnel" to the list of occupations associated with Hepatitis A, B and C; and

WHEREAS, The impact of this legislation will be to dramatically shift the burden of proof for firefighters filing workers compensation claims for Hepatitis C. If enacted this legislation will establish a presumption of eligibility for any firefighter who can demonstrate that he or she has contracted Hepatitis C during the time period in which he or she was employed as a firefighter. There will no longer by any requirement on the part of the firefighter to prove the source of exposure to the Hepatitis C Virus; and

WHEREAS, According to the World Health Organization, the Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] is a major cause of acute Hepatitis and chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. HCV is spread primarily by direct contact with human blood. No vaccine is currently available to prevent Hepatitis C and treatment for chronic Hepatitis C is extremely costly and only 50% effective in preventing death; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Resolution No. 000734 adopted on November 16, 2000, this Council recognized the existence of a medical epidemic of Hepatitis C attacking the livers of this City's professional firefighters, where no fewer than 130 current and retired members of the department have tested positive for this disease; and

WHEREAS, Despite reaching an amicable settlement with Local 22 over the terms for a new labor agre...