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, employees will not be responsible for any copayments or 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 amends the definitions 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 eligibility for accidental disability and death benefits for members diagnosed with cancer. The bill also ensures that political subdivisions must comply with any state mandates included, regardless of whether funding is provided, by making a specific code section inapplicable.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 97A.1, 411.1