This bill proposes updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding workers' compensation for peace officers, firefighters, and fire investigators. Under the current law, specific diseases such as brain, bladder, rectal, and colon cancer are presumed to arise out of employment for these professionals. The bill modifies this by clarifying that the presumption of occupational disease applies to a broader range of cancers, including adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, and several others, while also removing certain cancers from the list of presumptive conditions for peace officers. The language changes include replacing "shall be" with "is" to affirm the presumption of occupational disease and restructuring the list of cancers to be more comprehensive.

Additionally, the bill makes technical and conforming changes to ensure clarity in the definitions and conditions under which these diseases are presumed to arise from employment. It specifies that the presumption applies retroactively from June 30, 2021, and emphasizes the requirement for a physical examination aligned with national standards for firefighters. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the protections and benefits available to these workers in relation to occupational diseases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 23-901.01, 23-901.09, 23-901, 23-1043.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 23-901.01, 23-901.09, 23-901, 23-1043.01
House Engrossed Version: 23-901.01, 23-901.09, 23-901, 23-1043.01