The bill amends the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System laws to address line-of-duty deaths resulting from occupational cancer. It specifically revises Arkansas Code 24-10-608(b)(1) to clarify that if an active member dies in employer-paid service due to a personal injury or disease, including cancer diagnosed while in the line of duty, their beneficiaries are entitled to applicable benefits. The bill defines "disease" to include various types of cancer, such as leukemia and skin cancer, and establishes criteria for determining if a cancer diagnosis is related to the member's duties, including exposure to known carcinogens.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for adjusting spouse annuities for those affected by cancer as defined in the new language, ensuring that the annuity reflects at least twenty-five years of credited service. It also states the legislative intent for the act to have a retroactive effect for certain active members while clarifying that it does not require the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System to pay retroactive benefits. An emergency clause is included, making the act effective on July 1, 2025, to ensure timely implementation and communication of the new procedures to employers.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1322 V2 - 2-26-2025 10:26 AM: 24-10-608(b)
Act 416: 24-10-608(b)