In a major legislative breakthrough, heart disease among Emergency Medical Service workers will be presumed to be caused by the physical and psychological stress of their jobs. Under the new law, affected members of Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Local 2507 and EMS Officers Local 3621 could retire with tax-free disability pensions of three quarters of their final average salary.

The legislation removes an inequity between the 3,000 uniformed EMS employees in DC 37 and uniformed police and firefighters, who have had a similar “heart bill” in place for many years.

“This is a tremendous victory for our members,” said Local 2507 President Patrick Bahnken. “By passing it, the Legislature and Gov. Pataki have recognized the sacrifices of EMS workers, the vital role we play in public safety, and the hardships of our work.”

“This is momentous legislation for us,” said Local 3621 President Donald Rothschild. “It brings us another step toward parity with the other uniformed forces.”

The Legislature passed the bill late last year, and Gov. Pataki signed it into law Jan. 30. For assistance in winning the legislation, the locals thanked Pataki; Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver; Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno; City Council Speaker Gifford Miller; prime sponsors Senator Serphin Maltese and Assembly member Peter Abbate; and Assembly member Michael Gianaris.

They also praised lobbying efforts by members and executive boards of the two locals and the work of lobbyist Robert A. Ungar. “Many activists sacrificed their time to help convince legislators of the justice of our cause,” said Mr. Bahnken.