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

Cancer death benefits for volunteer firefighters’ families

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama extends its existing line-of-duty death benefit to qualifying volunteer firefighters’ cancer deaths. Beneficiaries or dependents can file claims through the Alabama State Board of Adjustment. The firefighter must have Alabama volunteer firefighter certification or equivalent certification received before moving to Alabama. A physical exam before initial certification must have shown no cancer. The firefighter must have served at least six years before diagnosis and been active when symptoms leading to diagnosis began. That service must have been with a volunteer department recognized by the Alabama Forestry Commission or an Alabama paid-and-volunteer department. The department must keep records showing exposure to a known cancer-causing substance during firefighting events the firefighter joined. Covered cancers include bladder, blood, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, intestinal, kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectum, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, and thyroid cancers. Leukemia, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are also covered. When the recorded exposure is reasonably linked to the fatal cancer, the law presumes the cancer came from volunteer service. The state can overturn that presumption by proving the cancer more likely than not had another cause. Existing death-benefit claim rules apply, but this law controls where the rules conflict. The provided text does not state the benefit amount.