SB 45 - This act also allows for the creation of a Voluntary Firefighter Cancer Benefits Trust. Under the act, any municipality or special district that employs firefighters who meet certain qualifications may make contributions to a Voluntary Firefighter Cancer Benefits Trust. The board of trustees of any trust created for the purposes of this act is subject to the Sunshine Law. The trust is then required to make payments to covered individuals based upon the type of cancer with which the covered individual was diagnosed. The maximum amount that may be paid out from the trust for a particular cancer diagnosis in a covered individual is $249,000. Benefits may be reduced by 25% if the covered individual used a tobacco product within the 5 years immediately preceding the cancer diagnosis.

Any trust created for the purposes of this act may accept or apply for grants or donations from any private or public source. Furthermore, any such trust may apply for grants from the state fire marshal. This provision expires June 30, 2022.

SCOTT SVAGERA