PA HB1785

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act to strengthen the evidentiary standard for denying firefighter cancer claims, requiring "clear and convincing medical evidence" instead of "substantial competent evidence" to prove cancer was not caused by firefighting duties

Allows employers to rebut the cancer presumption only with clear and convincing evidence that tobacco use by the firefighter is the major contributing cause of the cancer

Extends the filing deadline for firefighter cancer claims to 600 weeks (approximately 11.5 years) after last employment exposure, up from the standard 300-week limitation for occupational diseases

Limits the cancer presumption benefit to claims filed within the first 300 weeks, while still permitting claims without the presumption for the extended period

Takes effect 60 days after enactment