Governor Kay Ivey signed Alabama House Bill 466 into law, which expands occupational illness presumptions for firefighters to include Parkinson’s disease.

The bill includes a standard for demonstrating that Parkinson’s disease is occupational in origin in order to qualify for benefits. Firefighters must have completed three years of service and have previously passed a physical exam that showed no evidence of the disease prior to beginning service. Furthermore, the disease must manifest itself during the period in which the firefighter is in the service of the city if the firefighter demonstrates that he or she, while employed by the city, was exposed to a known toxin that is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

The bill will go into effect October 1st.