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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1315 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1601
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Walter F. Timilty
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to COVID-19 complications for public safety employees.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Walter F. TimiltyNorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1315 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1601
By Mr. Timilty, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1601) of Walter F. Timilty for
legislation relative to COVID-19 complications for public safety employees. Public Safety and
Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1649 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to COVID-19 complications for public safety employees.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 41 shall be amended by adding the following section:
2 Section 100C. Upon written application by any of its police officers or firefighters retired
3either before or after the acceptance of this section; or in the event of the death of any such
4police officer or firefighter, upon written application by his widow or, if he leaves no widow, by
5his next of kin, shall indemnify such police officer or firefighter or, in the event of his death, his
6widow, or if he leaves no widow, his next of kin, for all reasonable hospital, medical and
7surgical, chiropractic, nursing, pharmaceutical, prosthetic and other related expenses and
8reasonable charges incurred by such police officer or firefighter after his retirement relating to
9ongoing treatment or complications relating to COVID-19 or its variant contracted as a work-
10related illness; provided, however, that no person shall be indemnified under this section unless a 2 of 2
11majority of the members of a panel consisting of (a) the chairman of the retirement board of the
12city or town, (b) the city solicitor, town counsel or other officer having similar duties or a person
13designated in writing by such solicitor, counsel, or officer to act for him, and (c) such physician
14selected by agreement of the city or town manager and the retiree’s physician, upon receipt from
15the applicant of due proof, certify:—(1) that the expenses for which indemnification is sought
16were the natural and proximate result of Covid-19 or its variant contracted as a work-related
17illness; (2) that such expenses were incurred after the acceptance of this section; (3) that the
18hospital, medical and surgical, chiropractic, nursing, pharmaceutical, and/or prosthetic to which
19such expenses relate were rendered within six months before the filing of the application; (4) that
20such expenses are reasonable under all the circumstances.