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New York Heart Bills: Presumptions Governing Police And Firefighters' Cardiac Disabilities, Andrea J. Berger

Fordham Urban Law Journal

In New York, two statutes govern heart disease suffered by police officers and firefighters - one covering New York City, and the other covering New York State. Both bills establish a line-of-duty presumption which provides that any impairment of health caused by diseases of the heart and the resulting disability or death are presumptive evidence that the impairment was job connected, unless proven otherwise. This Note analyzes the history and current status of New York's two heart bills, including the effect of judicial interpretations of the City Heart Bill, and assesses various alternatives available to the City.