HB 65: Firefighter Cancer Amendments - Utah

Substitute #3 → Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 25, 2025

MINOR

The bill was updated to include additional cosponsors and corrected the effective date from February 2025 to March 12, 2025. The substantive policy text regarding firefighter cancer presumptions, screening requirements, and funding remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Added a list of cosponsors (Ken Ivory, Angela Romero, Carl R. Albrecht, Jason B. Kyle, Jake Sawyer, Stewart E. Barlow, Trevor Lee, David Shallenberger, Bridger Bolinder, Karianne Lisonbee, Troy Shelley, Jefferson S. Burton, A. Cory Maloy, Lisa Shepherd, Kay J. Christofferson, Ashlee Matthews, Rex P. Shipp, Paul A. Cutler, Verona Mauga, Andrew Stoddard, Jennifer Dailey-Provost, Tracy J. Miller, Jordan D. Teuscher, Ariel Defay, Carol S. Moss, Jason E. Thompson, Rosalba Dominguez, Jefferson Moss, R. Neil Walter, Joseph Elison, Clinton D. Okerlund, Christine F. Watkins, Doug Fiefia, Doug Owens, Douglas R. Welton, Stephanie Gricius, Nicholeen P. Peck, Stephen L. Whyte, Katy Hall, Michael J. Petersen, Ryan D. Wilcox) to the long title.

TIMELINE

Updated the timestamp at the end of the document from 2-25-25 8:42 AM to 3-12-25 9:21 AM, indicating the bill was finalized on March 12, 2025.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from a firefighter cancer presumption and screening measure into a comprehensive package that also redefines the state's fire training program and liability rules. The most critical change is the addition of marijuana to the list of substances that can disqualify a firefighter from receiving cancer compensation if used outside of work. The bill also shifts the responsibility for conducting cancer screenings from general physicians to a specific state center and adds a requirement for a five-year study to identify new occupational cancers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely modifying the Utah Occupational Disease Act to include amendments to the fire training program and liability rules for multi-employer situations.

ELIGIBILITY

Added marijuana to the list of substances that, if used outside of work, can disqualify a firefighter from receiving workers' compensation for respiratory cancers.

Modified the eligibility criteria for the rebuttable presumption by changing the required service time from five years to eight years and adjusting the look-back period for former firefighters.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate for the Division of Industrial Accidents to conduct a five-year study to determine if new cancers are linked to firefighting service, with a report due by September 2029.

Changed the entity responsible for offering cancer screenings from any approved physician to the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health specifically.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for the 'Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health' and expanded the definition of the fire training program to include Utah Valley University.

Expanded the list of excluded individuals in the firefighter definition to explicitly include those providing private fire suppression services.

SCOPE

Added provisions regarding liability for occupational diseases when a firefighter works for more than one employer, specifying conditions under which the last employer is liable.

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill version increases the cancer screening program funding from $3 million to $3.7 million and updates the Senate sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Michael K. McKell'. The substantive policy content regarding firefighter cancer presumptions, screening requirements, and eligibility criteria remains unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

No substantive scope change; this is primarily a funding and administrative update to the same legislative proposal.

FISCAL

Increased the appropriated funding amount from $3,000,000 to $3,700,000 for fiscal year 2026 to support the cancer screening program.

TECHNICAL

Updated the Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Michael K. McKell' to reflect the correct legislative sponsor.

Added a new line item specifying $3,700,000 in restricted fund and account transfers from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands cancer screening and compensation protections for Utah firefighters by adding more cancer types to the presumptive list, requiring free cancer screenings after seven years of service, and funding the program with $3 million. It also clarifies liability rules for multi-employer situations and excludes cancers caused by tobacco or marijuana use from the presumption.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of covered cancers from just four types to fifteen types and adds a mandatory cancer screening program for firefighters with seven or more years of service.

FISCAL

Added $3,000,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026 to fund cancer screening programs and related administrative costs.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory cancer screening requirements for firefighters after seven years of service, with screenings conducted by the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.

Added requirement that fire departments cover out-of-pocket costs for cancer screenings including co-payments, deductibles, and coinsurance.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the list of presumptive cancers from four types (pharynx, esophagus, lung, mesothelioma) to fifteen types including bladder, brain, colorectal, kidney, leukemia, lymphomas, melanomas, ovarian, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancers.

Added exclusion for respiratory cancers if tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or marijuana use is a substantial contributing cause to the cancer development.

DEFINITION

Modified firefighter definition to clarify that private suppression service providers are excluded from the presumption protections.

TIMELINE

Set implementation timeline with screenings beginning January 1, 2026, and full benefits coverage beginning January 1, 2029.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for Division of Industrial Accidents to conduct a five-year study on non-presumptive cancers contracted by firefighters, with report due September 30, 2029.

Firefighter Cancer Amendments

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