Presumptive Disability Law in Kansas
CODE PART:
Chapter 74.–STATE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND AUTHORITIES
Article 49.–PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
74-4952 Definitions.
DESCRIPTION:
- “Service-connected” means with regard to a death or any physical or mental disability, any such death or disability resulting from external force, violence or disease occasioned by an act of duty as a policeman or fire fighter and, for any member after five years of credited service, there shall be a rebuttable presumption, that any death or disability resulting from a heart disease or disease of the lung or respiratory tract or cancer as provided in this subsection, except that in the event that the member ceases to be a contributing member by reason of a service-connected disability for a period of six months or more and then again becomes a contributing member, the provision relating to death or disability resulting from a heart disease, disease of the lung or respiratory tract or cancer as provided in this subsection shall not apply until such member has again become a contributing member for a period of not less than two years or unless clear and precise evidence is presented that the heart disease, disease of the lung or respiratory tract or cancer as provided in this subsection was in fact occasioned by an act of duty as a policeman or fire fighter. If the retirement system receives evidence to the contrary of such presumption, the burden of proof shall be on the member or other party to present evidence that such death or disability was service-connected. The provisions of this section relating to the presumption that the death or disability resulting from cancer is service-connected shall only apply if the condition that caused the death or disability is a type of cancer which may, in general, result from exposure to heat, radiation or a known carcinogen.