MI HB5296

Expands worker's compensation coverage to include full-time, part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer members of fire departments, police departments, and public fire authorities (previously limited to fully paid members only).

Creates presumption that respiratory and heart diseases developing during active service arise from employment for covered first responders, with no requirement to prove work-related causation.

Establishes a separate "first responder presumed coverage fund" in the state treasury to pay workers' compensation benefits for qualifying occupational cancers (respiratory tract, bladder, skin, brain, kidney, blood, thyroid, testicular, prostate, and lymphatic) after 60 months of service.

Requires claimants to first apply for any available pension benefits before claiming coverage fund benefits, with coverage fund claims suspended during periods when pension benefits are received.

Directs the director to develop application processes, post fund standards on the department website, process claims within 30 days, and submit annual reports to the legislature on fund operations and anticipated costs.