Oliveira and Garry Hold Press Conference on Bill Expanding ''Heart Law'' Protections for Publicly Empl
BOSTON – On Thursday, Senator Jake Oliveira (Hampden, Hampshire & Worcester District) and Representative Colleen Garry (36th Middlesex District) held a press conference at the Massachusetts State House to highlight a joint bill they filed this legislative session: SD.539 / HD.4025, An Act providing equity and fairness to POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease. The legislation seeks to amend Chapter 32, Section 94 of the "Heart Law" to ensure fairness for publicly employed police officers who were not covered when the law was initially enacted in 1950.
Speaking before law enforcement representatives, legislators, and members of the press in Room 222, Senator Oliveira emphasized the urgency of addressing the disproportionate rates of heart disease among police officers.
"Police officers face some of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease due to the nature of their work, yet many are still excluded from the protections of the Heart Law," said Senator Jake Oliveira. "This legislation ensures that publicly employed officers across all agencies receive the same considerations, because their health risks are the same, regardless of where they serve."
Representative Colleen Garry, who filed the bill alongside Senator Oliveira, stressed the importance of ensuring parity for all publicly employed police officers under the law.
"When passed, this bill will give heart bill equity to the some 400 police officers who serve our commonwealth in different law enforcement agencies. They are called upon to deal with serious issues and are all vulnerable to heart disease as the statutorily protected law enforcement officers," said Garry.
The bill expands the "Heart Law" to include: University of Massachusetts Police, State Environmental Police, Department of Mental Health Police, Massport Police, State and Community College Police.
Research from the Harvard School of Public Health, the American Heart Association, and other institutions confirms that cardiovascular disease is an occupationally linked condition among law enforcement. The statistics are staggering:
The bill applies only to publicly employed police officers who: Are defined as equals under Chapter 6E, Section 1 of Police Reform, meet the same training and POST certification standards, and adhere to the same criminal procedural law standards.
Additionally, passage of this bill does not automatically provide a benefit. Officers must undergo a medical examination to determine eligibility under Chapter 32, Section 94. Fiscal impact is minimal, as most officers suffering from heart disease have contributed to their pensions for over twenty years and would be drawing from their own earned benefits.
Lieutenant James Sullivan of the University of Massachusetts was one of the guest speakers at the press conference. “I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to Senator Oliveira and Representative Garry, for sponsoring SD.539 and HD.4025, acts that provide equity and fairness to POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease,” said Sullivan. “It is right and fitting that we draw attention to this bill in February as it is Heart Health Awareness Month across our nation. In this month of February, we lift our voices for Heart Health, drawing attention to a relentless foe that claims far too many lives.
Derrick Cruz Director of Communications and Engagement
The event united a strong coalition of legislators, public safety officials, and advocates to push for the bill's passage. Senator Oliveira and Representative Garry urged their colleagues in the Legislature to advance SD.539 / HD.4025 and ensure that all officers, regardless of their department, are treated fairly under Massachusetts law.