HB 2444 — An Act amending the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act, further providing for death benefit eligibility.

PRINTER'S NO.   3254

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2444
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY INGLIS, GOUGHNOUR, PIELLI, McNEILL, BRENNAN,
        FRANKEL, STEELE, MERSKI, RIVERA, MALAGARI, BURGOS, FLEMING,
        HILL-EVANS, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GALLAGHER,
        DONAHUE, HADDOCK, DELLOSO AND PASHINSKI, APRIL 21, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 22, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), entitled
 2      "An act providing for the payment of death benefits to the
 3      surviving spouse or children or parents of firefighters,
 4      ambulance service or rescue squad members, law enforcement
 5      officers or National Guard members who die as a result of the
 6      performance of their duties," further providing for death
 7      benefit eligibility.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 1 of the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424,
11   No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement
12   Personnel Death Benefits Act, is amended by adding a subsection
13   to read:
14      Section 1.    * * *
15      (a.2)   A firefighter who has served four or more years in
16   continuous firefighting, who had direct exposure to a carcinogen
17   and who, prior to engaging in firefighting duties, passed a
18   physical examination that failed to reveal any evidence of
19   cancer is presumed to have died as a result of the performance
1   of the firefighter's duties for purposes of this act.
2      * * *
3      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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