The proposed General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 410 aims to provide enhanced support for the families of firefighters who die from cancer-related illnesses. It introduces the definition of "firefighter cancer death," which qualifies for compensation under existing law, and establishes the "Fallen Hero Fund," a nonlapsing fund managed by the Comptroller. This fund is designed to offer financial assistance, including a lump sum death benefit of $100,000 to the surviving families of first responders who die in the line of duty, specifically including those who succumb to firefighter cancer. The bill also clarifies the criteria for determining dependency for children of first responders and expands the definition of "killed in the line of duty" to encompass firefighter cancer deaths.

In addition to these provisions, the bill amends various sections of the general statutes to update definitions related to health care coverage for first responders and introduces a one-year pilot program for reimbursing firefighters for cancer screenings, set to begin on July 1, 2026. This pilot program will be implemented in one municipality with a volunteer fire department and another with a paid fire department, overseen by the State Fire Marshal, who will report on its outcomes by January 1, 2028. The legislation also modifies the reimbursement process for employers providing health care coverage, specifying that reimbursements will be sourced from the Fallen Hero Fund or the firefighters cancer relief account, thereby ensuring proper funding and oversight for health care benefits for first responders.