New Mexico § 52-3-32.1 - Firefighter occupational conditions

§ 52-3-32.1. Firefighter occupational conditions

A . As used in this section, “ firefighter ” means a person who is employed as a full-time non-volunteer firefighter by the state

or a local government entity and who has taken the oath prescribed for firefighters. B. If a firefighter is diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions after

the period of employment indicated, and the condition was not revealed during an initial

employment medical screening examination or during a subsequent medical review pursuant

to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and rules promulgated pursuant to that act,

the condition is presumed to be proximately caused by employment as a firefighter: (1) brain cancer after ten years; (2) bladder cancer after twelve years; (3) kidney cancer after fifteen years; (4) colorectal cancer after ten years; (5) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after fifteen years; (6) leukemia after five years; (7) ureter cancer after twelve years; (8) testicular cancer after five years if diagnosed before the age of forty with no

evidence of anabolic steroids or human growth hormone use; (9) breast cancer after five years if diagnosed before the age of forty without a

breast cancer 1 or breast cancer 2 genetic predisposition to breast cancer; (10) esophageal cancer after ten years; (11) multiple myeloma after fifteen years; (12) hepatitis, tuberculosis, diphtheria, meningococcal disease and methicillin-resistant

staphylococcus aureus appearing and diagnosed after entry into employment; or (13) posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosed by a physician or psychologist that results

in physical impairment, primary or secondary mental impairment or death. C. The presumptions created in Subsections B and D of this section may be rebutted

by a preponderance of evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction showing that the

firefighter engaged in conduct or activities outside of employment that posed a significant

risk of contracting or developing a described condition. D. If a firefighter is diagnosed with a heart injury or stroke suffered within twenty-four

hours of fighting a fire, while responding to an alarm, while returning from an alarm

call, while engaging in supervised physical training or while responding to or performing

in a non-fire emergency, the heart injury or stroke is presumed to be proximately

caused by employment as a firefighter. The presumption created in this subsection shall not be made if the firefighter's

employer does not have a current physical training program and the firefighter does

not have a current medical screening examination or review pursuant to the Occupational

Health and Safety Act and rules promulgated pursuant to that act allowing participation

in that program. E. When any presumptions created in this section do not apply, it shall not preclude

a firefighter from demonstrating a causal connection between employment and condition

or injury by a preponderance of evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction. F. Medical treatment based on the presumptions created in this section shall be provided

by an employer as for a job-related condition or injury unless and until a court of

competent jurisdiction determines that the presumption does not apply. If the court determines that the presumption does not apply or that the condition

or injury is not job related, the employer's workers' compensation insurance provider

shall be reimbursed for health care costs by the medical or health insurance plan

or benefit provided for the firefighter by the employer.