Bill > HB1851

This bill amends the Virginia workers' compensation law to expand the presumption of compensability for certain cancers to include sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who have completed five years of service. Currently, various public safety workers like firefighters, state police, and emergency management officers are covered under a presumption that specific cancers (including leukemia, prostate, rectal, throat, ovarian, breast, colon, brain, testicular, bladder, and thyroid cancers) are considered occupational diseases if they cause death or disability. The bill adds sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to this list, meaning that if these law enforcement professionals develop one of these cancers after five years of service, it will be presumed to be work-related unless proven otherwise by substantial evidence. The bill maintains existing requirements that employees must have passed a pre-employment physical examination showing they were cancer-free at the time of hiring, and employers can request additional medical examinations to verify the claim. This change provides additional protection and support for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who may develop cancer as a result of their hazardous professional duties.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1851