State Senate passes staph infection presumption bill

Illinois state senators on Friday passed legislation that would make staph infections compensable under rebuttable presumptions for firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

H.B. 3662, which passed the General Assembly in April, adds staph infection, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, to the state’s already existing law on blood-borne pathogens, respiratory diseases, heart diseases, hypertension, cancers and other illnesses.

If signed by the governor, the presumption would go into effect immediately.