DE HB135

Expands the definition of "covered firefighters" to include all active members of volunteer or municipal fire departments (volunteers, partly paid, or full-time), EMTs, fire service instructors, fire marshals employed by the State, and fire department auxiliary members.

Establishes a presumption that covered firefighters (excluding auxiliary members) who have served at least 5 years and develop specified occupational diseases in the line of duty are eligible for permanent disability benefits, including lung disease, heart problems, cancer from carcinogen exposure, and post-traumatic stress injury.

Requires medical examinations upon joining the fire service and periodic examinations every 5 years (first 20 years) or every 3 years (after 21 years of service) to establish baseline health status and track occupational disease development.

Allows the presumption of occupational disease to be rebutted by evidence that the condition predated firefighting service, resulted from tobacco use or non-occupational risk factors, or in cancer cases, that the firefighter was not exposed to carcinogenic agents.

Requires fire departments to maintain comprehensive exposure tracking records and mandates biennial reports to the General Assembly on approved and disapproved cancer claims, active claims, and associated costs.