A bill for an act concerning retirement and employment benefits associated with cancer, and making appropriations.
Impact
The introduction of SF272 marks a significant enhancement in healthcare benefits for public safety employees, particularly by expanding the state’s definition of cancer. This broader definition encompasses various cancer diagnoses, thus qualifying more cases for accidental disability and death benefits under the Peace Officers Retirement, Accident, and Disability system and the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement system. Furthermore, political subdivisions are eligible for state reimbursement of up to $1,250 per eligible employee for the associated costs of providing these examinations, with a total appropriation of $1 million from the general fund planned for the fiscal year 2025-2026.
Summary
Senate File 272, also referred to as SF272, addresses retirement and employment benefits associated with cancer for specific public safety personnel in Iowa. The bill mandates that starting July 1, 2025, public employers must provide cancer screening examinations to full-time fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical services providers. These examinations are required within the first three years of employment and subsequently every three years thereafter. Importantly, eligible personnel will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, or copayments for these screenings.
Contention
While SF272 aims to bolster the support offered to public safety employees in terms of cancer-related health issues, it necessitates compliance from local governments with state mandates. This requirement has the potential to cause contention regarding funding and resource allocation for these programs. Concerns may arise among local entities about the sustainability of such financial commitments without assured state funding, highlighting a possible tension between state directives and local government capabilities.
Similar To
A bill for an act concerning retirement contributions of and benefits associated with cancer diagnoses of members of certain public retirement systems, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 266.) Effective date: 06/06/2025, 07/01/2025.
A bill for an act relating to police officers and fire fighters concerning civil service entrance evaluations and benefits for members of the municipal fire and police retirement system.(See HF 687.)
A bill for an act relating to police officers and fire fighters concerning civil service entrance evaluations and benefits for members of the municipal fire and police retirement system.(Formerly SSB 1132.)
A bill for an act relating to police officers and fire fighters concerning civil service entrance evaluations and benefits for members of the municipal fire and police retirement system. (Formerly HSB 237.)
A bill for an act relating to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of state government entities associated with the budget, financial control, and information technology, making penalties applicable, and making appropriations.
A bill for an act relating to public safety personnel retirement systems, the taxation of surviving spouse pension benefits, and including retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 2680.)
A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, including by providing for payments associated with indigent defense and representation, the funding of activities relating to consumer fraud and antitrust, a corrections capital reinvestment fund, an Iowa law enforcement academy study, a human trafficking study, and the funding of peace officer retirement, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 251.)