This bill amends the Workers' Compensation Act to provide specific provisions regarding compensation for firefighters suffering from cancer. It stipulates that compensation will only be available to firefighters who have served four or more 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 presumption that a firefighter's cancer is work-related and instead requires that any denial of a claim must be based on clear and convincing medical evidence showing that the cancer was not caused or materially contributed to by their occupation. Additionally, it allows for rebuttal of the presumption if evidence shows that tobacco use is the major contributing cause of the cancer.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that claims related to cancer can be filed within six hundred weeks after the last date of employment, extending the time frame beyond the standard three hundred weeks applicable to other occupational diseases. However, the presumption of work-related cancer will only apply to claims made within the first three hundred weeks. This legislation aims to clarify the criteria for compensation related to cancer for firefighters while ensuring that claims are substantiated by appropriate evidence. The act is set to take effect in 60 days.