An Act mandating access to periodic cancer screening examinations for full-time paid firefighters not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program, amending P.L.2021, c.478, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.478 (C.52:14-17.29ii) is amended to read as follows:
C.52:14-17.29ii Full-time firefighters to be screened for cancer.
1. a. A firefighter employed as a full-time paid employee of a fire department or unit of this State or a political subdivision of this State shall be provided a cancer screening examination conducted by a physician not less than three years after the start of the firefighter’s employment as a firefighter and every three years thereafter during the course of the firefighter’s employment. The examination shall include screening for, at a minimum and when applicable, the following cancers:
(1) colon;
(2) lung;
(3) bladder;
(4) oral;
(5) thyroid;
(6) skin;
(7) blood;
(8) breast;
(9) cervical
(10) testicular; and
(11) prostate.
b. Subsection a. of this section shall apply to a firefighter enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program as occupational coverage. For the purpose of this subsection, employment as a full-time paid employee of a fire department or unit of this State or a political subdivision of this State shall be a pre-existing condition.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, beginning January 1, 2023 and for each plan year thereafter, a public employer that does not participate in the State Health Benefits Program shall provide health care benefits coverage for its employees that offers cancer screening examinations consistent with the requirement of subsection a. of this section. A public employer that does not participate in the State Health Benefits Program shall be eligible for reimbursement from the State for its cost of providing benefits coverage for such examinations; provided, however, at no time shall the cost being reimbursed to the public employer by the State for the full examination required under subsection a. of this section exceed $1,250 per three-year period for each firefighter.
No co-payment, deductible, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket expense shall be required for such examinations.
A public employer shall maintain adequate records to facilitate the reimbursement authorized pursuant to this subsection.
For the purpose of this subsection, employment as a full-time paid employee of a fire department or unit of this State or a political subdivision of this State shall be a pre-existing condition. There shall be an appropriation from the State General Fund in each annual appropriations act of such funds as necessary for the purposes of this section.
2. There is appropriated from the State General Fund to the Department of the Treasury $2,000,000 for the purposes of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2021, c.478 (C.52:14-17.29ii).
3. This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.
Approved September 15, 2022.