Substitute Senate Bill No. 1426, also known as Public Act No. 25-4, amends the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program to improve benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer. The bill introduces new definitions such as "state employer" and "administrative law judge," while repealing outdated language. It expands the list of cancers covered under the program to include skin, brain, and various other systems, and shifts the criteria for compensation from personal injury to occupational disease. To qualify for benefits, firefighters must meet specific conditions, including having no prior evidence of cancer and refraining from cigarette use in the fifteen years leading up to their diagnosis. The application process for benefits will mirror that of workers' compensation claims, and provisions are made for surviving dependents of firefighters who die from cancer to file claims under the workers' compensation system.

Additionally, the bill enhances the powers and responsibilities of administrative law judges (ALJs) regarding claims under the specified chapter and section 7-313p. It grants ALJs the authority to summon witnesses, direct document production, and certify official acts, aligning their powers with those of magistrates. Claims must be filed in the district where they arise, with provisions for uncertain cases. The bill also allows the Superior Court to enforce the provisions of the chapter and section 7-313p and permits former ALJs to settle and dispose of appealed cases even after leaving office. These amendments aim to streamline the administrative process and ensure efficient handling of claims.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-313p, 31-278
LAB Joint Favorable: 7-313p, 31-278
File No. 176: 7-313p, 31-278
Public Act No. 25-4: 7-313p, 31-278