Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-05-04 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2396 HB 210 The following was read the second time: 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2397 HOUSE BILL NO. 210 "An Act relating to occupational disability benefits for peace officers and firefighters; and providing for an effective date." with the: Journal Page L&C RPT 7DP 1611 FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM) 1611 FIN RPT CS(FIN) NEW TITLE 6DP 4NR 2352 FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM) 2352 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original bill: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 210(FIN) "An Act relating to occupational disability benefits and medical benefits available under the public employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date." Representative Johnson objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, CSHB 210(FIN) was adopted. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Saddler: Page 1, line 1, following "Act" (title amendment): Insert "relating to workers' compensation coverage for disability from diseases for certain firefighters;" Page 1, following line 3: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Section 1. AS 23.30.121(b) is amended to read: (b) For a firefighter covered under AS 23.30.243, (1) there is a presumption that a claim for compensation for disability as a result of the following diseases is within the provisions of this chapter: (A) respiratory disease; (B) cardiovascular events that are experienced within 72 hours after exposure to smoke, fumes, or toxic substances; and (C) the following cancers: 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2398 (i) primary brain cancer; (ii) malignant melanoma; (iii) leukemia; (iv) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; (v) bladder cancer; (vi) ureter cancer; (vii) kidney cancer; (viii) prostate cancer; and (ix) breast cancer; (2) notwithstanding AS 23.30.100(a), following termination of service, the presumption established in (1) of this subsection extends to the firefighter for a period of six [THREE] calendar months for each year of requisite service but may not extend more than 120 [60] calendar months following the last date of employment; (3) the presumption established in (1) of this subsection applies only to an active or former firefighter who has a disease described in (1) of this subsection that develops or manifests itself after the firefighter has served in the state for at least six [SEVEN] years and who (A) underwent [WAS GIVEN] a qualifying medical examination (i) upon the first employment as [BECOMING] a firefighter that did not show evidence of the disease; (ii) at least once every two years [(B) WAS GIVEN AN ANNUAL MEDICAL EXAM] during [EACH OF] the first six [SEVEN] years of employment as a firefighter that did not show evidence of the disease; and (B) [(C)] with regard to diseases described in (1)(C) of this subsection, demonstrates that, while in the course of employment as a firefighter, the firefighter was exposed to a known carcinogen, as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology Program, and the carcinogen is associated with a disabling cancer." Page 1, line 4: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2399 Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative Kopp objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 210(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 1 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Prax, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 1 was not adopted. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 210(FIN) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There was objection. CSHB 210(FIN) will advance to third reading on the May 6 calendar.