An Act relative to defining certain disabilities

This bill (HD 1739) changes how certain work-related lung conditions are handled for public employees in retirement systems. It presumes that lung diseases or breathing problems caused by workplace environmental hazards (like poor air quality) were incurred during employment, unless proven otherwise. This applies to both non-contributory and contributory retirement systems under Chapter 32 of the General Laws. The key change shifts the burden of proof to the employer to disprove work-relatedness, directly affecting public workers who develop such conditions after working in hazardous environments.