Overview
- Governor Maura Healey filed the bill Wednesday to put Nick Spinale on injured-on-duty status known as 111F through Chelmsford with the state reimbursing the town.
- Spinale was hurt April 7 while working part time for the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Crib Support team, which made him ineligible for Chelmsford’s injured-on-duty pay.
- He has relied on workers’ compensation that pays less than his salary and has been using sick and vacation time that his union says could run out in June.
- Spinale returned home Monday after 33 days in the hospital and weeks in rehab following a roughly 40‑foot fall that caused facial fractures, a pelvic injury and a brain injury.
- Unions are urging lawmakers to fast-track the fix, and officials are weighing broader protections for instructors injured at state facilities where current practice defaults to workers’ compensation.