Sec. 607.053. IMMUNIZATION; SMALLPOX. (a) A firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician is presumed to have suffered a disability or death during the course and scope of employment if the firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician:

(1) received preventative immunization against smallpox, or another disease to which the firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician may be exposed during the course and scope of employment and for which immunization is possible; and

(2) suffered death or total or partial disability as a result of the immunization.

(b) An immunization described by this section is considered preventative whether the immunization occurs before or after exposure to the disease for which the immunization is prescribed.

(c) A presumption established under Subsection (a) may not be rebutted by evidence that the immunization was:

(1) not required by the employer;

(2) not required by law; or

(3) received voluntarily or with the consent of the firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician.

(d) A firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician who suffers from smallpox that results in death or total or partial disability is presumed to have contracted the disease during the course and scope of employment as a firefighter, peace officer, or emergency medical technician.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 695 (S.B. 310), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 993 (S.B. 1582), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2019.