This bill mandates that public employers provide health care benefits, specifically cancer screening examinations, to full-time fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical services providers. The screenings must occur within the first three years of employment and every three years thereafter, with the state reimbursing political subdivisions for the costs incurred, capped at $1,250 per eligible employee per three-year period. Additionally, eligible employees will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses for these examinations. The bill allocates $1 million from the general fund for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to support these reimbursements.

Furthermore, the bill revises the definition of cancer in the context of the public safety peace officers retirement, accident, and disability system (PORS) and the municipal fire and police retirement system (411 system) by replacing specific cancer references with a broader description. This change aims to expand the range of cancer diagnoses eligible for accidental disability and death benefits for members of these systems. The bill also extends this revised definition to the Iowa public employees retirement system for special service members, thereby enhancing benefits for those diagnosed with cancer. Notably, the bill includes a state mandate that requires political subdivisions to comply with its provisions, regardless of whether funding is provided.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 97A.1, 411.1