This bill amends the Workers' Compensation Act of June 2, 1915, specifically addressing compensation for firefighters suffering from cancer. It stipulates that compensation will only be available to firefighters who have served at least four years in continuous firefighting duties, can demonstrate direct exposure to carcinogens, and have passed a physical examination prior to filing a claim. The bill removes the previous provision that allowed for the presumption of causation to be rebutted by substantial competent evidence. Instead, it introduces a new standard requiring that any denial of a claim must be based on clear and convincing medical evidence showing that the firefighter's cancer was not caused or materially contributed to by their occupation. Additionally, it allows for rebuttal of the presumption if it can be shown that tobacco use was the major contributing cause of the cancer.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that claims from volunteer firefighters must be supported by evidence of direct exposure to carcinogens as documented in the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System. It also extends the timeframe for filing cancer-related claims to six hundred weeks after the last date of employment, while maintaining that the presumption of causation only applies to claims made within the first three hundred weeks. The act is set to take effect in 60 days.