Bill > HB34

This bill amends existing Kentucky law (KRS 61.315) to expand the types of cancer that qualify a firefighter's death for line-of-duty death benefits, which are a lump-sum payment of $80,000 to a surviving spouse or children if the death is a direct result of an act in the line of duty. The bill specifically adds mesothelioma, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, rectal cancer, thyroid cancer, intestinal cancer, multiple myeloma cancer, buccal cancer, and pharyngeal cancer to the list of qualifying cancers, in addition to the previously recognized cancers like bladder, brain, and breast cancer. For a firefighter's death from cancer to be considered in the line of duty, they must have served at least five consecutive years, developed the cancer within ten years of leaving service, not used tobacco for ten years prior to diagnosis, been under sixty-five at death, not had a prior cancer diagnosis, and been exposed to a known carcinogen reasonably associated with the cancer. The bill also makes a technical correction by changing "haematopoietic" to "hematopoietic" when referring to a type of cancer.

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb34.html