Legislative Workshop | Firefighters Cancer Bill & Emergency Responder Death Benefits Amendment Update

New Laws Going Into Effect July 1, 2019

Recently Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 426, the Firefighters Cancer Bill, and Senate Bill 7098, the Emergency Responder Death Benefits Amendment, which will both go into effect on July, 1, 2019. These laws will directly impact employers who have employees and retirees providing direct fire fighting services. Bill 7098 will raise the death benefit as it relates to all employees providing emergency response services.

Gehring Group will host a collaborative workshop intended to share best practices while facilitating a toolkit for compliance with the mandates and administration of the Firefighters Cancer Bill and the new thresholds of Bill 7098. Workers compensation legal counsel familiar with public-sector, risk management/benefit team members, and our legislative team will facilitate this discussion.

Topics to be discussed include: Financial considerations and potential funding including emerging products, trusts, and characterization for tax purposes; administration including reporting and reimbursement requests; communication to stakeholders; timing of implementation; and laws impacting retired and terminated employees.