Permanent Funding for Firefighter Cancer Benefits Now a Reality

Effective July 1, 2025

SB 319 Headed to the Governor for Signature

(Bill Also Includes an Increase in Fire and Rescue Workers Pension)

With assistance from Legislators like Senator Jim Perry, Representative John Bell, and Representative Julia Howard who all spoke at our Legislative Day, our permanent funding for Firefighter Cancer Benefits, corrections to Workers Comp funding, and an increase in our Fire and Rescue Workers Pension Benefit have passed the House and Senate and are headed to the Governor for signature . Added to an Insurance Amendment Bill, SB 319, which had passed the Senate previously, it went before the House and passed WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE. It now has been concurred last night in the Senate and goes to the Governor for his signature. IT IS ENROLLED!!!!!

The Bill accomplished several our our Priorities for this session, in addition to some added benefits. Since the Cancer and Workers Compensation changes have an effect on Finance and GPA collection and distribution, the Budget, and require OSFM to make changes, those changes are not effective until July 1, 2025. The Pension Increase is effective July 1, 2024. PLEASE NOTE EFFECTIVE DATES BESIDE EACH BENEFIT.

– It makes the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program a permanent program within the Office of State Fire Marshal, removing the “Pilot” designation; EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025

– It makes the initial benefit $37,000 rather than $25,000, effectively including the previous reimbursements for expenses of $12,000 that required submittals. The lump sum benefit is now $74,000 instead of $50,000 if an individual has two instances of cancer; EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025

– It now includes retirees, who have retired within 10 years; EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025

– It provides a permanent funding source for the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program; EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025

– It continues to provide funding to the Volunteer Safety Workers Comp program to support and reduce premiums and provides a safe reservie to insure the fund remains sound; EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025

– It increases the Fire and Rescue Workers Pension Benefits from$170 to $175 per month, a $5.00 increase, and also increases the premiums $5  per month as well to keep the fund sound. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024

This effectively accomplishes our priorities for the 2023/2024 session once the Governor signs it, and it becomes session law.

Our thanks go out to each of you whom have lobbied, our lobbyist Debbie Clary, and all our legislators who have worked to move this forward.

The Board of the NC State Firefighters’ Association

Tim Bradley, EFO, CFO, FIFireE

Executive Director