FL S0426

Creates section 112.1816, F.S., establishing cancer benefits for full-time firefighters diagnosed with any of 21 specified cancers (including lung, brain, breast, colon, kidney, and mesothelioma) who have at least 5 years of continuous employment, have not used tobacco for 5 years, and have not held another high-risk cancer occupation

Provides a one-time $25,000 cash payout upon initial cancer diagnosis, plus employer reimbursement for all out-of-pocket deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance costs for cancer treatment through employer-sponsored health plans

Requires retirement plans to treat cancer-related total and permanent disability as line-of-duty disability; firefighters without employer-sponsored retirement receive at least 42% of annual salary until death

Classifies firefighter deaths from cancer or cancer treatment as line-of-duty deaths, entitling beneficiaries to death benefits of at least 42% of salary for 10 years if no retirement plan exists

Mandates employers bear all costs of these benefits and prohibits increasing employee retirement contributions to fund them; increases Special Risk Class employer contribution rate by 0.08 percentage points effective July 1, 2019