SB189 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

State Board of Adjustment, provide death benefit to survivors of volunteer firefighters who die of cancer.

Summary

SB189 would extend the line-of-duty cancer death benefit to survivors of active Alabama volunteer firefighters, making them eligible for the same death benefit as paid first responders when a volunteer dies from work-related cancer.

What This Bill Does

It creates eligibility for the volunteer firefighters' death benefit when the death is caused by cancer developed in the line of duty. To qualify, the firefighter must have had a pre-certification physical with no cancer, at least six years of service, active volunteer status, and the department must have records showing exposure to a known carcinogen. If exposure is reasonably linked to the cancer type, the bill presumes the cancer arose from volunteer service unless the state proves otherwise; the benefits would be governed by the existing line-of-duty death benefit program under the current law, with an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Survivors or dependents of active Alabama volunteer firefighters who die from work-related cancer would become eligible to receive the line-of-duty death benefit.
• Active Alabama volunteer firefighters (and their departments) who meet the criteria would be subject to the new eligibility requirements and potential receipt of the death benefit if their cancer is work-related.

Key Provisions

• Extends the line-of-duty death benefit for cancer to survivors of volunteer firefighters, using the same benefit as for first responders who die in the line of duty.
• Defines cancer to include a broad list of cancers (e.g., bladder, breast, cervical, esophageal, lung, prostate, skin, blood cancers, leukemias, lymphomas, etc.).
• Requires specific eligibility factors: pre-certification physical showing no cancer, at least six years of service, active volunteer status, and department records showing exposure to a known carcinogen.
• Creates a presumption that cancer arose in the line of duty if exposure to a known carcinogen is reasonably linked to the cancer type, shifting proof burden to the state to rebut with evidence.
• States that the provisions of this section prevail over conflicting provisions of existing law (Article 1, Chapter 30, Title 36).
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Government Administration