Pennsylvania HB 2191: An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in liability and compensation, further providing for compensation for cancer in the occupation of firefighter.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2853
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2191
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, PROBST, HOHENSTEIN, BRENNAN,
NEILSON, HOWARD, RIVERA, SANCHEZ, PIELLI, HANBIDGE, FREEMAN,
McANDREW, HARKINS, GALLAGHER, BOYD, DOUGHERTY, D. WILLIAMS
AND KAZEEM, FEBRUARY 2, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), entitled "An
act defining the liability of an employer to pay damages for
injuries received by an employe in the course of employment;
establishing an elective schedule of compensation; providing
procedure for the determination of liability and compensation
thereunder; and prescribing penalties," in liability and
compensation, further providing for compensation for cancer
in the occupation of firefighter.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 301(f) of the act of June 2, 1915
(P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, is
amended to read:
Section 301. * * *
(f) Compensation pursuant to cancer suffered by a
firefighter shall only be to those firefighters who [have served
four or more years in continuous firefighting duties, who] can
establish direct exposure to a carcinogen referred to in section
108(r) relating to cancer by a firefighter and have successfully
passed a physical examination prior to asserting a claim under
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this subsection or prior to engaging in firefighting duties and
the examination failed to reveal any evidence of the condition
of cancer. The presumption of this subsection may be rebutted by
substantial competent evidence that shows that the firefighter's
cancer was not caused by the occupation of firefighting. Any
claim made by a member of a volunteer fire company shall be
based on evidence of direct exposure to a carcinogen referred to
in section 108(r) as documented by reports filed pursuant to the
Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System and provided that
the member's claim is based on direct exposure to a carcinogen
referred to in section 108(r). Notwithstanding the limitation
under subsection (c)(2) with respect to disability or death
resulting from an occupational disease having to occur within
three hundred weeks after the last date of employment in an
occupation or industry to which a claimant was exposed to the
hazards of disease, claims filed pursuant to cancer suffered by
the firefighter under section 108(r) may be made within six
hundred weeks after the last date of employment in an occupation
or industry to which a claimant was exposed to the hazards of
disease. The presumption provided for under this subsection
shall only apply to claims made within the first three hundred
weeks.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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