HB 4934 Summary

• Extends occupational cancer presumption coverage to forest fire officers and fire/crash rescue officers who are in active service with 60+ months of tenure and develop respiratory tract, bladder, skin, brain, kidney, blood, thyroid, testicular, prostate, or lymphatic cancer.

• Establishes the first responder presumed coverage fund as a separate state treasury fund to pay cancer-related workers' compensation claims for eligible firefighters and first responders instead of claims against individual employers.

• Creates a rebuttable presumption that qualifying cancers arise from employment duties unless the claimant was a substantial and consistent tobacco user within 10 years before the cancer diagnosis and tobacco use was a significant cause factor.

• Requires the director to develop application processes, maintain fund standards on the department website, review claims within 30 days, and submit annual reports to the legislature on claim numbers, amounts paid, and administrative costs.

• Requires the Workers' Compensation Agency to report by March 31 annually to appropriations committee chairs regarding anticipated benefit costs and any funding shortfalls for the first responder presumed coverage fund in the following fiscal year.