GA
Georgia House Bill HB909

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB909 Compare Versions

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11 25 LC 60 0094
22 House Bill 909
33 By: Representatives Drenner of the 85
44 th
55 , Scott of the 76
66 th
77 , Davis of the 87
88 th
99 , Schofield of the
1010 63
1111 rd
1212 , and Lim of the 98
1313 th
1414
1515 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1616 AN ACT
1717 To amend Titles 12, 25, and 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1818 1
1919 conservation and natural resources, fire protection and safety, and insurance, respectively,2
2020 so as to provide greater health protections for firefighters; to provide for monitoring of3
2121 concentration levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at certain4
2222 firefighter related sites; to prohibit the use of firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an5
2323 intentionally added chemical after a certain date; to require manufacturers of firefighting6
2424 equipment to label such equipment as containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical7
2525 after a certain date; to provide for the development of standards for mitigating PFAS8
2626 contamination at harmful exposure levels and for the safe disposal or destruction of any9
2727 firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical; to create the10
2828 Firefighter Health Advisory Council and establish its powers; to provide for the11
2929 establishment and purpose of the Firefighter PFAS Initiative; to require fire departments to12
3030 provide and maintain insurance coverage for its firefighters for the payment of claims for13
3131 PFAS blood testing under certain circumstances; to require insurers to provide coverage for14
3232 PFAS blood testing under certain circumstances; to revise and provide definitions; to provide15
3333 for civil penalties; to provide for reporting; to provide for a short title; to provide for16
3434 legislative findings and intent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and17
3535 for other purposes.18
3636 H. B. 909
3737 - 1 - 25 LC 60 0094
3838 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
3939 19
4040 SECTION 1.20
4141 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Firefighter Health and Environmental21
4242 Safety Act."22
4343 SECTION 2.23
4444 (a) The General Assembly finds that:24
4545 (1) Firefighters face significant health risks due to occupational exposure to toxic25
4646 substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS; and26
4747 (2) Current federal and state health programs lack adequate provisions for addressing27
4848 occupational hazards unique to firefighting.28
4949 (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to:29
5050 (1) Enhance firefighter health protections; and30
5151 (2) Ensure accountability and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations providing31
5252 health protections for firefighters through clear enforcement mechanisms.32
5353 SECTION 3.33
5454 Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural34
5555 resources, is amended in Article 1 of Chapter 2, relating to the Department of Natural35
5656 Resources generally, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:36
5757 "12-2-12.
5858 37
5959 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:38
6060 (1) 'Covered site' means any land within this state used as a fire department or as a39
6161 training site for firefighting operations.40
6262 (2) 'Division' means the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural41
6363 Resources.42
6464 H. B. 909
6565 - 2 - 25 LC 60 0094
6666 (3) 'Fire department' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-21.43
6767 (4) 'Harmful exposure level' means, which respect to the human population, including44
6868 sensitive subgroups, a concentration level of PFAS that, over a lifetime or part of a45
6969 lifetime, may cause a change in body function, including, but not limited to, organ46
7070 function or cell structure, that might lead to disease or health problems, as determined by47
7171 the division after considering any regulations or guidance issued by the United Sates48
7272 Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027.49
7373 (5) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' shall have the same50
7474 meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41.51
7575 (b) Subject to available funding, beginning on January 1, 2027, the division shall52
7676 participate in or conduct such studies, reviews, investigations, research, emission53
7777 inventories, and demonstrations as it deems necessary to monitor levels of PFAS54
7878 contamination in air, water, and soil at covered sites; provided, however, that, for any55
7979 privately held land, the division shall receive permission to conduct such monitoring56
8080 activities from the owner. The division shall provide a written analysis of the results of57
8181 such monitoring for each covered site not less frequently than quarterly to the Firefighter58
8282 Health Advisory Council, established pursuant to Code Section 25-2-42.59
8383 (c) Not later than January 1, 2028, the division shall adopt rules and regulations60
8484 establishing decontamination protocols for fire departments relating to mitigating PFAS61
8585 contamination at a harmful exposure level. In adopting such rules and regulations, the62
8686 division shall take into consideration any regulations or guidance issued by the United63
8787 States Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027."64
8888 SECTION 4.65
8989 Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and safety, is66
9090 amended by revising Code Section 25-2-41, relating to use of class B fire-fighting foam67
9191 containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals, as follows:68
9292 H. B. 909
9393 - 3 - 25 LC 60 0094
9494 "25-2-41.
9595 69
9696 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:70
9797 (1) 'Class B fire-fighting
9898 firefighting foam' means any foam designed to extinguish71
9999 flammable liquid fires.72
100100 (2) 'Division' means the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural73
101101 Resources.74
102102 (3) 'Fire department' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-21.75
103103 (4) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.76
104104 (5) 'Firefighting equipment' means any materials used by firefighters to extinguish fires,77
105105 including, but not limited to, class B firefighting foam; jackets, pants, gloves, boots,78
106106 helmets, face masks, and other personal protective equipment used by firefighters; and79
107107 any other materials used by firefighters in firefighting.80
108108 (6) 'Intentionally added chemical' means a chemical in a product that serves an intended81
109109 function or technical effect in the product or product component, including the PFAS82
110110 within intentionally added chemicals and PFAS that are intentional breakdown products83
111111 of an added chemical that also have a functional or technical effect in the product or84
112112 product component.85
113113 (7) 'Manufacturer' means:86
114114 (A) Any entity which manufactures, makes, produces, or causes to be produced87
115115 firefighting equipment sold in this state or firefighting equipment that such entity88
116116 intends to be sold in this state;89
117117 (B) The first purchaser of firefighting equipment manufactured anywhere that intends90
118118 to resell such firefighting equipment in this state regardless of whether the original91
119119 manufacturer, maker, or producer intends such firefighting equipment to be sold in the92
120120 United States; or93
121121 (C) Any entity which becomes a successor of an entity described in subparagraph (A)94
122122 or (B) of this paragraph.95
123123 H. B. 909
124124 - 4 - 25 LC 60 0094
125125 (2)(8) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' 'PFAS chemicals' means96
126126 a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon97
127127 atom, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and designed to be fully98
128128 functional in class B fire-fighting foam formulations.99
129129 (9) 'Person' means any individual, partnership, association, firm, public or private100
130130 corporation, or public entity.101
131131 (10) 'Public entity' means a department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority,102
132132 or instrumentality of the State of Georgia, any local government or authority, including103
133133 a county, municipal, or consolidated government in this state, or any other political104
134134 subdivision in this state. Such term includes a fire department or local school system.105
135135 (3)(11) 'Testing' means calibration testing, conformance testing, or fixed system testing.106
136136 (b) Until June 30, 2030, no person On and after January 1, 2020, no person; fire107
137137 department provided for under Chapter 3 of this title; state department, agency, board,108
138138 bureau, office, commission, public corporation, or authority; county, municipal109
139139 corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state shall discharge or110
140140 otherwise use class B fire-fighting firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS111
141141 chemicals PFAS as an intentionally added chemical unless:112
142142 (1) Such discharge or other use occurs in fire prevention or in response to an emergency113
143143 fire-fighting firefighting operation; or114
144144 (2) Such discharge or other use is for training or testing purposes which occurs at a115
145145 facility that has implemented containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent116
146146 uncontrolled releases of such class B fire-fighting firefighting foam into the environment.117
147147 (c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to:118
148148 (1) Restrict the manufacture, sale, or distribution of class B fire-fighting foam that119
149149 contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals or restrict the discharge or other use of120
150150 class B fire-fighting foam in response to an emergency fire-fighting operation; or121
151151 H. B. 909
152152 - 5 - 25 LC 60 0094
153153 (2) Prevent the use of nonfluorinated foams, including other class B fire-fighting foams,122
154154 for purposes of training for fire-fighting operations.123
155155 (c) Beginning on July 1, 2030, no person shall discharge, use, or cause to be used any124
156156 firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical.125
157157 (d) Beginning on July 1, 2030, no person or manufacturer shall distribute, sell, or offer for126
158158 sale in this state any newly manufactured firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an127
159159 intentionally added chemical unless it is accompanied by a legible and easily discernable128
160160 disclosure with the statement 'Made with PFAS Chemicals,' including for online listings129
161161 of products for sale.130
162162 (e) No later than January 1, 2028, the division shall adopt rules and regulations131
163163 establishing standards for any fire department operating in this state to safely destroy132
164164 firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical. In adopting133
165165 such rules and regulations, the division shall take into consideration any regulations or134
166166 guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31,135
167167 2027.136
168168 (f) Beginning on July 1, 2028, no person shall destroy or dispose of firefighting equipment137
169169 containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical except as provided by any rules and138
170170 regulations adopted by the division.139
171171 (g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any person that violates140
172172 subsection (c) of this Code section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed141
173173 $10,000.00 for each day that the violation persists, after such person is notified of the142
174174 Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to143
175175 the same. The amount of any such penalty shall be fixed by the Commissioner.144
176176 (2)(A) No person shall be held in violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection if such145
177177 person relied in good faith upon representations of a manufacturer that firefighting146
178178 equipment did not contain PFAS as an intentionally added chemical.147
179179 H. B. 909
180180 - 6 - 25 LC 60 0094
181181 (B) No individual firefighter shall be personally liable for payment of any civil penalty148
182182 imposed under this subsection.149
183183 (h) Any person or manufacturer that violates subsection (d) of this Code section shall be150
184184 subject to a civil penalty of $100.00 per violation, after such person or manufacturer is151
185185 notified of the Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with152
186186 respect to the same. For the purposes of this subsection, each article of newly153
187187 manufactured firefighting equipment that is distributed, sold, or offered for sale in this state154
188188 in violation of subsection (d) shall constitute a separate violation.155
189189 (i) Any person that violates subsection (f) of this Code section shall be subject to a civil156
190190 penalty, not to exceed $10,000.00 per violation, after such person is notified of the157
191191 Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to the158
192192 same. The amount of any such penalty shall be fixed by the Commissioner."159
193193 SECTION 5.160
194194 Said title is further amended by adding new Code sections to read as follows:161
195195 "25-2-42.162
196196 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:163
197197 (1) 'Council' means the Firefighter Health Advisory Council established pursuant to this164
198198 Code section.165
199199 (2) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.166
200200 (3) 'PFAS' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41.167
201201 (b) There is established within the office of the Commissioner the Firefighter Health168
202202 Advisory Council. The objective of the council shall be to monitor current and future169
203203 health risks impacting firefighters in this state and to provide recommendations on170
204204 solutions to mitigate such health risks, with a focus on the effects of exposure to PFAS. 171
205205 All affected state agencies shall cooperate with the council in its efforts to meet such172
206206 H. B. 909
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208208 objective. This subsection shall not be construed to authorize the council to perform any173
209209 function currently performed by an affected state agency.174
210210 (c) The council shall be composed of 12 members as follows:175
211211 (1) The Commissioner or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson;176
212212 (2) The commissioner of public heath or his or her designee;177
213213 (3) The commissioner of natural resources or his or her designee;178
214214 (4) The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency179
215215 or his or her designee;180
216216 (5) One representative from the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, appointed by the181
217217 Governor;182
218218 (6) One representative from the Georgia State Firefighters Association, appointed by the183
219219 Lieutenant Governor;184
220220 (7) One representative from a state-wide labor organization representing firefighters,185
221221 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;186
222222 (8) One representative from a medical or research institution experienced in occupational187
223223 health, appointed by the Governor;188
224224 (9) One representative from the insurance industry experienced in firefighter related189
225225 claims, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;190
226226 (10) One firefighter with at least ten years of experience as a full-time firefighter,191
227227 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;192
228228 (11) One firefighter with at least ten years of experience as a volunteer firefighter,193
229229 appointed by the Governor; and194
230230 (12) One representative from the general public with a proven interest in firefighter195
231231 health and safety, appointed by the Governor.196
232232 (d) On or before October 1, 2025:197
233233 (1) The Governor shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to198
234234 paragraphs (5), (8), (11), and (12) of subsection (c) of this Code section;199
235235 H. B. 909
236236 - 8 - 25 LC 60 0094
237237 (2) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to200
238238 paragraphs (6) and (9) of subsection (c) of this Code section; and201
239239 (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the first members of the202
240240 council pursuant to paragraphs (7) and (10) of subsection (c) of this Code section.203
241241 (e) All members of the council appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of four years,204
242242 and all members of the council appointed by the Lieutenant Governor or the Speaker of the205
243243 House of Representatives shall serve terms of two years. All appointed members shall206
244244 serve until the appointment of his or her successor. Successors to appointed members shall207
245245 be appointed in the same manner as original appointments. Vacancies shall be filled in the208
246246 same manner as the original appointments. Each appointed member shall be eligible to209
247247 succeed himself or herself; provided, however, that no member shall serve more than four210
248248 consecutive terms on the council.211
249249 (f) Each member of the council shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the212
250250 State of Georgia.213
251251 (g) Subject to available funding, the council shall:214
252252 (1) Develop a health program focused on monitoring and reducing the harmful health215
253253 effects of exposure to PFAS with respect to firefighters, to be called the Firefighter PFAS216
254254 Initiative. The purposes and duties of such program shall be to:217
255255 (A) Aggregate and maintain data related to PFAS contamination levels at covered sites218
256256 collected pursuant to Code Section 12-2-12;219
257257 (B) Aggregate and maintain PFAS related health data on firefighters collected pursuant220
258258 to Code Section 25-2-43;221
259259 (C) Synthesize existing studies, reports, and data related to PFAS with any data222
260260 collected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph to identify and track223
261261 health condition incidence and health trends among firefighters;224
262262 (D) Collaborate with other health related state entities, including, but not limited to, the225
263263 Department of Public Health, the Department of Community Health, and the226
264264 H. B. 909
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266266 Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, to support227
267267 and integrate with existing initiatives and programs related to monitoring and mitigating228
268268 the harmful effects of PFAS; and229
269269 (E) Provide annual public forums to present key findings of the Firefighter PFAS230
270270 Initiative and gather community feedback;231
271271 (2) Identify any significant health risks, other than PFAS exposure, affecting firefighters232
272272 in this state and develop innovative recommendations for addressing such health risks;233
273273 and234
274274 (3) On or before December 1 of each year, file a report to the Governor and the General235
275275 Assembly, including a summary of the council's key findings and recommendations, if236
276276 any, for legislative changes with respect to reducing significant health risks affecting237
277277 firefighters.238
278278 (h) The council shall convene at least quarterly or at such other frequency as determined239
279279 by the chairperson.240
280280 (i) The council shall be empowered to use subcommittees as it deems necessary to carry241
281281 out its duties and responsibilities. Members of such subcommittees shall be knowledgeable242
282282 of the subject matter with which the subcommittee is concerned and shall be appointed by243
283283 the chairperson of the council upon the recommendation of the council.244
284284 (j) Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall receive the same245
285285 expense allowance as that received by members of the General Assembly and the same246
286286 mileage allowance for the use of a personal car or a travel allowance of actual247
287287 transportation cost if traveling by public carrier as that received by all other state officials248
288288 and employees. The funds for such expenses and allowances shall be paid from funds249
289289 appropriated or available to the council.250
290290 (k) The council is authorized to accept donations, gifts, property, and other contributions251
291291 and to use the same for the purposes of carrying out this Code section.252
292292 H. B. 909
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294294 25-2-43.253
295295 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:254
296296 (1) 'Laboratory' means any institution that conducts PFAS blood testing.255
297297 (2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code256
298298 Section 25-3-23.257
299299 (b) Firefighter participation in the Firefighter PFAS Initiative, established pursuant to258
300300 paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of Code Section 25-2-42, shall be voluntary. Any259
301301 laboratory conducting PFAS blood testing on a firefighter shall obtain written informed260
302302 consent from such firefighter prior to sharing the health information set forth in261
303303 subsection (c) of this Code section.262
304304 (c) Subject to subsection (b) of this Code section, each laboratory in this state shall report263
305305 biannually to the Firefighter Health Advisory Council within the office of the264
306306 Commissioner concerning PFAS health metrics established by such council as reasonably265
307307 necessary to implement the Firefighter PFAS Initiative.266
308308 (d) Each laboratory in this state shall forward data collected from PFAS blood testing to267
309309 the Firefighter Health Advisory Council in a form and manner to be determined by the268
310310 Firefighter Health Advisory Council, provided that any data forwarded shall be aggregated269
311311 and shall not contain any identifying or confidential information with regard to any270
312312 individual firefighter.271
313313 (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Code section, PFAS blood testing and272
314314 reporting by any laboratory shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the privacy of the273
315315 firefighter during the testing process and consistency with state and federal laws applicable274
316316 to the confidentiality of health records."275
317317 SECTION 6.276
318318 Said title is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 25-3-23, relating to277
319319 general requirements, equipment and clothing, and insurance, as follows: 278
320320 H. B. 909
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322322 "(b)(1) A legally organized fire department shall provide and maintain sufficient insurance
323323 279
324324 coverage on each member of the fire department to pay claims for injuries sustained en280
325325 route to, during, and returning from fire calls or other emergencies and disasters and281
326326 scheduled training sessions.282
327327 (2)(A) As used in this paragraph, the term:283
328328 (i) 'Cancer' means bladder, blood, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, intestinal,284
329329 kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectal, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, and thyroid285
330330 cancer; leukemia; multiple myeloma; or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.286
331331 (ii) 'Certified' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 31-22-1.
332332 287
333333 (iii) 'Clinical laboratory' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code288
334334 Section 31-22-1.289
335335 (ii)(iv) 'Firefighter' means a firefighter as defined shall have the same meaning as set290
336336 forth in Code Section 25-4-2.291
337337 (v) 'PFAS blood testing' means a measurement of the amount of perfluoroalkyl and292
338338 polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood performed by a certified clinical laboratory and293
339339 includes a physician's interpretation of the results.294
340340 (iii)(vi) 'Volunteer' means a volunteer as defined shall have the same meaning as set295
341341 forth in Code Section 25-4-2.296
342342 (B) On and after January 1, 2018, a legally organized fire department shall provide and297
343343 maintain sufficient insurance coverage on each member of the fire department who is298
344344 a firefighter to pay claims for cancer diagnosed after having served 12 consecutive299
345345 months as a firefighter in this state. Such insurance benefits shall include at minimum300
346346 the following:301
347347 (i)(I) A lump sum benefit of $25,000.00 subject to limitations specified in the302
348348 insurance contract and based on severity of cancer and payable to such firefighter303
349349 upon submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of304
350350 diagnosis by a physician who is board certified in the medical specialty appropriate305
351351 H. B. 909
352352 - 12 - 25 LC 60 0094
353353 for the type of cancer involved that there are one or more malignant tumors
354354 306
355355 characterized by the uncontrollable and abnormal growth and spread of malignant307
356356 cells with invasion of normal tissue and that:308
357357 (a) Surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy is medically necessary;309
358358 (b) There is metastasis; or310
359359 (c) The firefighter has terminal cancer, is expected to die within 24 months or less311
360360 from the date of diagnosis, and will not benefit from, or has exhausted, curative312
361361 therapy; or313
362362 (II) A lump sum benefit of $6,250.00 subject to limitations specified in the314
363363 insurance contract and based on severity of cancer and payable to such firefighter315
364364 upon submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of316
365365 diagnosis by a physician who is board certified in the medical specialty appropriate317
366366 for the type of cancer involved that:318
367367 (a) There is carcinoma in situ such that surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy319
368368 has been determined to be medically necessary;320
369369 (b) There are malignant tumors which are treated by endoscopic procedures321
370370 alone;322
371371 (c) There are malignant melanomas; or323
372372 (d) There is a tumor of the prostate, provided that it is treated with radical324
373373 prostatectomy or external beam therapy; and325
374374 (ii) Payable as a result of a specific injury or illness to begin six months after326
375375 disability and submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof327
376376 of disability precluding service as a firefighter and continuing for up to 36328
377377 consecutive monthly payments:329
378378 (I) A monthly benefit equal to 60 percent of the member's monthly salary as an330
379379 employed firefighter with the fire department or a monthly benefit of $5,000.00,331
380380 whichever is less; or332
381381 H. B. 909
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383383 (II) If the member is a volunteer, a monthly benefit of $1,500.00.
384384 333
385385 The benefit under subdivision (I) or (II) of this division, as applicable, shall be334
386386 subordinate to any other benefit actually paid to the firefighter for such disability from335
387387 any other source, not including insurance purchased solely by the firefighter, and shall336
388388 be limited to the difference between the amount of such other paid benefit and the337
389389 amount specified under subdivision (I) or (II) of this division, as applicable.338
390390 (C) The combined total of all benefits received by any firefighter under339
391391 subdivisions (B)(i)(I) and (B)(i)(II) of this paragraph during his or her lifetime shall not340
392392 exceed $50,000.00.341
393393 (D) Beginning on July 1, 2026, a legally organized fire department shall provide and
394394 342
395395 maintain sufficient insurance coverage for each member of the fire department who is343
396396 a firefighter to pay claims for PFAS blood testing after having served 12 consecutive344
397397 months as a firefighter in this state.345
398398 (D)(E) With the exception of the benefit under subdivision (B)(ii)(I) of this paragraph,346
399399 any person who was simultaneously a member of more than one fire department at the347
400400 time of diagnosis shall not be entitled to receive benefits under this paragraph from or348
401401 on behalf of more than one of such fire departments. In the event a volunteer of one349
402402 fire department is simultaneously employed by another fire department, the fire350
403403 department for which such person is a volunteer shall not be required to maintain the351
404404 coverage on such volunteer otherwise required under this subsection during the period352
405405 of such employment. Any member who receives benefits under division (ii) of353
406406 subparagraph (B) of this paragraph may be required to have his or her condition354
407407 reevaluated; in the event any such reevaluation reveals that such person has regained355
408408 the ability to perform duties as a firefighter, then his or her benefits under division (ii)356
409409 of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall cease. Benefits under said division shall357
410410 also cease upon the death of such person. A member who, after at least one year as a358
411411 firefighter with any legally organized fire department, departs from employment, ceases359
412412 H. B. 909
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414414 to be an active volunteer, or retires shall be entitled to continue his or her coverages
415415 360
416416 under this paragraph through a continuation or conversion to individual coverage. The361
417417 departing member shall be responsible for payment of all premiums.362
418418 (E)
419419 (F) In addition to any other purpose authorized under Chapter 8 of Title 33, county363
420420 governing authorities and municipal governing authorities may use proceeds from364
421421 county and municipal taxes imposed under said chapter for purposes of providing365
422422 insurance pursuant to this paragraph.366
423423 (F)(G) Funds received as premiums for the coverages specified in this paragraph shall367
424424 not be subject to premium taxes under Chapter 8 of Title 33.368
425425 (G)(H) The computation of premium amounts by an insurer for the coverages under369
426426 this paragraph shall be subject to generally accepted adjustments from insurance370
427427 underwriting."371
428428 SECTION 7.372
429429 Said title is further amended in Chapter 7, relating to the Georgia Fire Academy, by revising373
430430 paragraph (2) of Code Section 25-7-2, relating to creation and purpose of the academy, as374
431431 follows:375
432432 "(2) To provide professional training to paid, volunteer, and other publicly or privately376
433433 employed firefighters at a minimal cost to them and their employers, including, but not377
434434 limited to, annual training related to PFAS exposure risks and mitigation;"378
435435 SECTION 8.379
436436 Said title is further by revising Code Section 25-7-3, relating to "board" defined, as follows:380
437437 "25-7-3.381
438438 As used in this chapter, the term:382
439439 (1) 'Board' 'board' means the Board of Public Safety.383
440440 H. B. 909
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442442 (2) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' shall have the same384
443443 meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41."385
444444 SECTION 9.386
445445 Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, is amended by387
446446 adding a new Code section to read as follows: 388
447447 "33-29-3.5.389
448448 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:390
449449 (1) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.391
450450 (2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code392
451451 Section 25-3-23.393
452452 (3) 'Policy' means any benefit plan, contract, or policy except a disability income policy,394
453453 specified disease policy, or hospital indemnity policy.395
454454 (b) Policies subject to this Code section shall contain coverage for PFAS blood testing396
455455 performed with at least the following frequency:397
456456 (1) Once as a baseline for any firefighter who has served at least 12 consecutive months398
457457 but fewer than 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state; or399
458458 (2) Once every year for any firefighter who has served at least 24 consecutive months400
459459 as a firefighter in this state.401
460460 (c) Each insurer authorized to issue an individual accident and sickness insurance policy402
461461 in this state which includes coverage for any firefighter shall include as part of or as a403
462462 required endorsement to each such policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery,404
463463 or renewed coverage for PFAS blood testing for the covered firefighters who meet the405
464464 minimum requirements of this Code section.406
465465 (d) The coverage required under subsection (c) of this Code section may be subject to such407
466466 exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance408
467467 provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner.409
468468 H. B. 909
469469 - 16 - 25 LC 60 0094
470470 (e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the issuance of individual410
471471 accident and sickness insurance policies which provide benefits greater than those required411
472472 by subsection (c) of this Code section or more favorable to the insured than those required412
473473 by subsection (c) of this Code section.413
474474 (f) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to individual accident and sickness414
475475 insurance policies issued by a fraternal benefit society, a healthcare plan, a health415
476476 maintenance organization, or any similar entity.416
477477 (g) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of417
478478 different levels of benefits or from having differences in coinsurance percentages418
479479 applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers419
480480 as otherwise authorized under the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 30 of this title, relating420
481481 to preferred provider arrangements."421
482482 SECTION 10.422
483483 Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: 423
484484 "33-30-4.6.424
485485 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:425
486486 (1) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.426
487487 (2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code427
488488 Section 25-3-23.428
489489 (3) 'Policy' means any benefit plan, contract, or policy except a disability income policy,429
490490 specified disease policy, or hospital indemnity policy.430
491491 (b) Policies subject to this Code section shall contain coverage for PFAS blood testing431
492492 performed with at least the following frequency:432
493493 (1) Once as a baseline for any firefighter who has served at least 12 consecutive months433
494494 but fewer than 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state; or434
495495 H. B. 909
496496 - 17 - 25 LC 60 0094
497497 (2) Once every year for any firefighter who has served at least 24 consecutive months435
498498 as a firefighter in this state.436
499499 (c) Each insurer authorized to issue a group accident and sickness insurance policy in this437
500500 state which includes coverage for any firefighter shall include as part of or as a required438
501501 endorsement to each such policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed439
502502 coverage for PFAS blood testing for the covered firefighters who meet the minimum440
503503 requirements of this Code section.441
504504 (d) The coverage required under subsection (c) of this Code section may be subject to such442
505505 exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance443
506506 provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner.444
507507 (e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the issuance of group445
508508 accident and sickness insurance policies which provide benefits greater than those required446
509509 by subsection (c) of this Code section or more favorable to the insured than those required447
510510 by subsection (c) of this Code section.448
511511 (f) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to group accident and sickness449
512512 insurance policies issued by a fraternal benefit society, a healthcare plan, a health450
513513 maintenance organization, or any similar entity.451
514514 (g) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of452
515515 different levels of benefits or from having differences in coinsurance percentages453
516516 applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers454
517517 as otherwise authorized under the provisions of Article 2 of this chapter, relating to455
518518 preferred provider arrangements."456
519519 SECTION 11.457
520520 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.458
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