KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

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HB103 • 2026

FIREFIGHTER WORKERS COMP REQUIREMENTS

An Act relating to coverage for disability from diseases for certain firefighters; and providing for an effective date.

Healthcare Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER
Last action
2025-02-14
Official status
(H) L&C
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the bill takes effect immediately, but does not specify a calendar date for this action in the provided excerpt.

Firefighter Workers' Compensation Disease Coverage

This law creates a rule that certain diseases are assumed to be work-related for firefighters who meet specific service and medical exam requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a presumption that respiratory disease, heart events within 72 hours of smoke exposure, and nine types of cancer are caused by firefighting duties.
  • Extends the time limit for claiming these benefits to three months per year of service after employment ends, up to a maximum of 60 months.
  • Requires firefighters to have served at least six years in Alaska before this presumption applies.
  • Mandates that firefighters pass an initial medical exam and exams every two years during their first six years with no signs of the disease.
  • Adds a rule for cancer claims requiring proof of exposure to known carcinogens while working.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Active or former firefighters in Alaska who have served at least six years.
  • Firefighters covered under AS 23.30.243 regarding disability compensation.

Terms To Know

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

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not apply if a firefighter has less than six years of service.
  • Firefighters must show they had no signs of the disease on their required medical exams to qualify.
  • Cancer claims require proof that the firefighter was exposed to specific cancer-causing substances while working.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-14 184

    (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE

  2. 2025-02-14 184

    (H) L&C, FIN

  3. 2025-02-14 184

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

FIREFIGHTER WORKERS COMP REQUIREMENTS
An Act relating to coverage for disability from diseases for certain firefighters; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB0103a -1- HB 103
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0584\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 103

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER

Introduced: 2/14/25
Referred: Labor and Commerce, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to coverage for disability from diseases for c ertain firefighters; and 1
providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 23.30.121(b) is amended to read: 4
(b) For a firefighter covered under AS 23.30.243, 5
(1) there is a presumption that a claim for compensation for d isability 6
as a result of the following diseases is within the provisions of this chapter: 7
(A) respiratory disease; 8
(B) cardiovascular events that are experienced within 72 hours 9
after exposure to smoke, fumes, or toxic substances; and 10
(C) the following cancers: 11
(i) primary brain cancer; 12
(ii) malignant melanoma; 13
(iii) leukemia; 14
34-LS0584\A
HB 103 -2- HB0103a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(iv) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; 1
(v) bladder cancer; 2
(vi) ureter cancer; 3
(vii) kidney cancer; 4
(viii) prostate cancer; and 5
(ix) breast cancer; 6
(2) notwithstanding AS 23.30.100(a), following termination of service, 7
the presumption established in (1) of this subsection extends t o the firefighter for a 8
period of three calendar months for each year of requisite serv ice but may not extend 9
more than 60 calendar months following the last date of employment; 10
(3) the presumption established in (1) of this subsection applies only to 11
an active or former firefighter who has a disease described in (1) of this subsection 12
that develops or manifests itself after the firefighter has ser ved in the state for at least 13
six [SEVEN] years and who 14
(A) underwent [ W A S G I V E N ] a q u a l i f y i n g m e d i c a l 15
examination 16
(i) upon the first employment as [ B E C O M I N G ] a 17
firefighter that did not show evidence of the disease; 18
(ii) at least once every two years [(B) WAS GIVEN 19
AN ANNUAL MEDICAL EXAM] during [EACH OF] the first six 20
[SEVEN] years of employment as a firefighter that did not show 21
evidence of the disease; and 22
(B) [ ( C ) ] w i t h r e g a r d t o d i s e a s e s described in (1)(C) of this 23
subsection, demonstrates that, wh ile in the course of employmen t as a 24
firefighter, the firefighter was exposed to a known carcinogen, as defined by 25
the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology 26
Program, and the carcinogen is associated with a disabling cancer. 27
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 28