| Chapter 443 |
| 2025 -- S 0458 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/03/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- CANCER BENEFITS FOR FIRE FIGHTERS |
Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tikoian, and Urso |
| Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Sections 45-19.1-3 and 45-19.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-19.1 |
| entitled "Cancer Benefits for Fire Fighters" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 45-19.1-3. Occupational cancer disability for fire fighters. |
| (a) Any fire fighter, including one employed by the state, or a municipal fire fighter |
| employed by a municipality that participates in the optional retirement for police officers and fire |
| fighters, as provided in chapter 21.2 of this title, who is unable to perform his or hertheir duties in |
| the fire department by reason of a disabling occupational cancer which develops or manifests itself |
| during a period while the fire fighter is in the service of the department, and any retired member of |
| the fire department of any city or town who develops occupational cancer, is entitled to receive an |
| occupational cancer disability, and he or she isthey are entitled to all of the benefits provided for |
| in chapters 19, 21 and 21.2 of this title and chapter 10 of title 36 if the fire fighter is employed by |
| the state. |
| (b) The provisions of this section apply retroactively in the case of any retired member of |
| the fire department of any city or town. |
| (c) The provisions of this section shall apply to all fire fighters employed by any |
| municipality notwithstanding contrary provisions of any special statute or public law pertaining to |
| municipal pension benefits, any municipal charter, and/or any municipal ordinance. |
| 45-19.1-4. Conclusive presumption. |
| (a) Any type of cancer found in a firefighter is conclusively presumed to be an occupational |
| cancer as that term is defined in § 45-19.1-2. |
| (b) This conclusive presumption shall not apply to firefighters hired after July 22, 2020, in |
| the following situations: |
| (1) If a physical examination was conducted at the time the firefighter was hired and the |
| examination revealed that person had cancer; or |
| (2) If the firefighter has completed less than two (2) years of employment with his or herthe |
| firefighter’s fire department; or |
| (3) If the firefighter has regularly or habitually used tobacco products during the five (5) |
| years prior to any diagnosis of cancer. |
| (c) The provisions of this section shall apply retroactively to all cancer-related illnesses, |
| injuries, and disability claims pending on or after July 22, 2020. |
| (d) The provisions of this section shall apply to all firefighters employed by any |
| municipality notwithstanding contrary provisions of any special statute or public law pertaining to |
| municipal pension benefits, any municipal charter, and/or any municipal ordinance. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001786/SUB A |
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