An act relating to workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters with cancer

This bill expands workers' compensation coverage for Vermont firefighters by establishing a legal presumption that certain cancers result from work-related exposure, making it easier for firefighters to receive benefits without proving direct causation. To qualify, firefighters must have worked at least five years in Vermont before diagnosis, be under 65 years old, have completed cancer screenings showing no prior cancer, and not have used tobacco products within 10 years of diagnosis. The law covers specific types of cancer including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and various organ cancers, and allows benefits to be claimed within 10 years of leaving firefighting employment. Additionally, the bill requires the state to report on the costs of funding cancer screenings and personal protective equipment upgrades, while recommending that fire departments maintain incident records and offer annual cancer screenings to their firefighters.