General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1426 seeks to amend the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program by updating definitions and eligibility criteria for compensation related to cancer diagnoses among firefighters. Key insertions include the definitions of "state employer," "administrative law judge," and the addition of skin cancer as a qualifying condition for benefits. The bill modifies the language concerning the cause of death or disability from "a personal injury which" to "an occupational disease which," thereby broadening the range of conditions covered. It also stipulates that firefighters must have been employed for at least five years in specific roles, such as interior structural firefighters or fire marshals, to qualify for benefits.

Additionally, the bill outlines the claims process, stating that benefits will be administered in accordance with workers' compensation claims, and establishes that there is no obligation for municipal or state employers to provide benefits if the firefighters cancer relief account becomes insolvent. It allows for the reconsideration of denied claims by an administrative law judge, ensuring a clear appeal process for firefighters. The bill also modifies language regarding claims from surviving dependents of firefighters who have died from cancer, replacing "survivors" with "surviving dependents" and allowing them to file claims within one year of the firefighter's death. Furthermore, it grants administrative law judges enhanced powers related to evidence examination and claims handling, with the changes set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-313p, 31-278