Whereas the sworn, full-time, regular employed state, county and municipal police officers of this state are required by law and policy to enforce the penal laws of the State of Alabama; and fire fighters must expose themselves to the dangers of fire suppression and hazardous material incident control; and in so doing augment the dangers inherent in such duty; it is the sense of the Legislature of Alabama that if such police officers or fire fighters contract any disease deemed crippling or fatal, because of the lack of a known cure, such police officers or fire fighters shall be given preferential treatment towards admission to any research program at any state-owned or supported medical facility, hospital or learning center in the State of Alabama.