The bill amends existing law to mandate that full-time firefighters in New Jersey receive cancer screening examinations every three years, starting three years after their employment begins. The screenings must be conducted by a physician and cover a range of cancers, including colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular, and prostate cancers. Additionally, the bill stipulates that public employers not participating in the State Health Benefits Program must provide similar health care benefits for their employees, with the State reimbursing them up to $1,250 per firefighter every three years for the cost of these examinations.

Furthermore, the bill ensures that public employers participating in the State Health Benefits Program must also provide coverage for cancer screenings for employees who waive their entitlement to this coverage. Importantly, no co-payments, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses will be required from firefighters for these examinations. The bill also establishes that employment as a full-time firefighter is considered a pre-existing condition for the purposes of health coverage, and it mandates an annual appropriation from the State General Fund to support these provisions. The act is set to take effect immediately upon approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:14-17.29
Advance Law: 52:14-17.29
Pamphlet Law: 52:14-17.29