THE BILL ITSELF
CS/CS/SB 984
Firefighter Cancer Benefits
ENROLLED
2026
Legislature CS for CS for SB 984, 1st Engrossed 2026984er
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An act relating to firefighter cancer benefits;
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amending s. 112.1816, F.S.; requiring a former
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employer to provide death benefits to certain
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beneficiaries for a specified time period under
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certain circumstances; providing a finding and
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declaration of important state interest; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
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112.1816, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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112.1816 Firefighters; cancer diagnosis.—
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(4)
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(c) Firefighters who die as a result of cancer or
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circumstances that arise out of the treatment of cancer are
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considered to have died in the manner as described in s.
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112.191(2)(a), and all of the benefits arising out of such death
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are available to the deceased firefighter’s beneficiary. Such
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death benefits must be made available by the former employer of
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the firefighter for 1 year after the date on which the
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firefighter terminated employment so long as the firefighter
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otherwise met the criteria specified in this subsection when he
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or she terminated employment and was not employed as a
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firefighter after that date.
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Section 2. The Legislature finds and declares that this act
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fulfills an important state interest.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.