N.Y. Volunteer Ambulance Workers' Benefit Law § 61: Death or disability due to disease or malfunction of heart or coronary arteries; claims and procedures

§ 61. Death or disability due to disease or malfunction of heart or

coronary arteries; claims and procedures. 1. A claim for benefits for

the death or disability of a volunteer ambulance worker due to disease

or malfunction of the heart or of one or more coronary arteries filed in

accordance with section forty-one of this article, shall not be denied

provided the claimant introduces evidence which establishes that a

volunteer ambulance worker suffered disease or malfunction of the heart

or of one or more coronary arteries which caused the disablement or

death of the volunteer ambulance worker, and that such disease or

malfunction resulted from the duties and activities in which the

volunteer ambulance worker was engaged as set forth in section five of

this chapter for which benefits shall be paid, unless it can be shown by

substantial evidence to the contrary that the duties and activities of

the volunteer ambulance worker in which the volunteer ambulance worker

was engaged at the time of such disease or malfunction did not cause or

precipitate such disease or malfunction; and further provided that the

injury did not result solely from the intoxication of the volunteer

ambulance worker while acting in line of duty or was not occasioned by

the wilful intention of the volunteer ambulance worker to bring about

the injury or death of himself or another.

2. The chairman of the workers' compensation board shall promulgate

rules and regulations providing a priority for controverted claims for

benefits filed as provided in subdivision one of this section. Such

rules and regulations shall also prescribe a form to be used for making

claims for such benefits. Such form shall specifically request the

information necessary in order to receive an award of benefits.

3. This section shall not be construed to repeal by implication any

existing provision of law.