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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB210

Firefighter Disease Coverage and Disability Benefit Changes

Last scannedSep 21, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law creates legal presumptions that certain diseases are work-related for eligible firefighters, increases occupational disability benefit payments to 75 percent of pay, and waives medical insurance premiums for disabled employees not on Medicare.

What it does

  • Creates a legal presumption that respiratory disease, heart events within 72 hours of smoke exposure, and nine specific cancers are work-related for eligible firefighters.
  • Extends the time period to claim these disease benefits after leaving service from three months per year of service to six months per year, with a maximum cap of 120 calendar months total.
  • Increases the occupational disability benefit payment from 40 percent to 75 percent of an employee's gross monthly pay at the time they stop working due to disability.
  • Allows disabled employees who are not eligible for Medicare to receive retiree major medical insurance without paying any premiums.
  • Requires employers to continue making retirement contributions into a disabled member's account while they receive benefits, even though the member cannot withdraw those funds yet.

Who it affects

  • Active and former firefighters in Alaska who have served at least six years and meet specific medical exam requirements.
  • Public employees receiving occupational disability benefits under the Public Employees' Retirement System.
  • Surviving spouses of disabled members or retirees eligible for medical insurance coverage.

Limits and unknowns

  • The disease presumption only applies to firefighters who passed a medical exam when hired and every two years during their first six years of service.
  • Firefighters must prove exposure to a known carcinogen for cancer claims under this law.
  • Disabled members cannot withdraw money from their individual contribution accounts while they are receiving disability benefits.

Plain language

Terms to know

Presumption
A legal rule that assumes a disease is caused by work unless proven otherwise, making it easier to get benefits.
Carcinogen
A substance known to cause cancer, as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology Program.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

OFFICER/FIREFIGHTER: DISABILITY/WORK COMP An Act relating to workers' compensation coverage for disability from diseases for certain firefighters; relating to occupational disability benefits and medical benefits available under the public employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON2522
  2. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE2502
  3. (S) FIN2502
  4. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS2502
  5. (H) VERSION: CSHB 210(FIN) AM2428
  6. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)2428
  7. (H) COSPONSOR(S): MCCABE, TOMASZEWSKI, STORY2426
  8. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2423
  9. (H) PASSED Y402422
  10. (H) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING2422
  11. (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION2422
  12. (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC2422
  13. (H) RESCIND ACTION (FAILED)AM 1 UC2422
  14. (H) RETURN SECOND/RESCIND ACTION AM 1 UC2422
  15. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 210(FIN)2422
  16. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS, JOSEPHSON, EISCHEID, SCHRAGE2401
  17. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/6 CALENDAR2399
  18. (H) AM NO 1 FAILED Y19 N212397
  19. (H) FIN CS ADOPTED UC2397
  20. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME2396

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 FAILED Y19 N21 2397