AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-51-201, relative to compensation paid to firefighters for certain conditions or injuries.
Summary
HB0482 amends Tennessee’s firefighter compensation/presumption law to expand the list of cancers covered by the occupational disease presumption. Under current law, certain cancers and conditions are presumed to be work-related for firefighters for purposes of compensation; this bill adds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer to that list, alongside the existing covered cancers such as testicular cancer.
The bill also adds a new eligibility requirement for firefighters seeking to use the presumption for those newly added cancers. A firefighter must obtain a physical medical examination after July 1, 2025, and the exam must include a cancer screening that does not reveal evidence of prostate, breast, or pancreatic cancer. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-51-201, which governs presumptions and compensation for firefighters suffering from certain occupational diseases and injuries. Its practical effect is to broaden potential workers’ compensation-style coverage and related benefits for firefighters diagnosed with prostate, breast, or pancreatic cancer, while also imposing a post-July 1, 2025 screening requirement as a condition for invoking the presumption for those cancers. The change affects firefighters, local governments, insurers, and public employers that may be responsible for claims under the statute.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition in committee, with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable recommendations at each stage shown. The bill appears to have been viewed as a supportive measure for firefighters and public safety personnel, with the legislature advancing it without recorded controversy in the provided materials.
Contention
No committee transcript is provided, and the recorded votes show no nays, so there is no documented floor or committee opposition in the supplied record. The only notable policy issue apparent from the text is the balance between expanding presumptive coverage for additional cancers and requiring a qualifying medical screening after July 1, 2025, which may affect which firefighters can access the presumption. Any contention would likely center on cost exposure to public employers and insurers versus the fairness of extending coverage for occupational cancer risks.
Crossfiled
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-51-201, relative to compensation paid to firefighters for certain conditions or injuries.