Arizona Senate Bill 1215 recently passed the House with a 53-4 vote, indicating a strong possibility that cancer presumptions for first responders could soon be expanded.

The bill would change the existing cancer presumption to list out specific cancer types that can be covered by workers’ comp as occupational diseases. Two separate lists exist for firefighters and peace officers.

Of note, this cancer presumption currently covers “adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory tract,” which has been interpreted in such a way to allow for the denial of adenocarcinoma claims that are not of the respiratory tract. The proposed language changes would make it so that such claims could be accepted.

Furthermore, the bill would add five years of retroactive effect, allowing certain individuals who were denied claims to file once more.

The bill originally passed the Senate with a 27-2-1 vote, prior to certain amendments. While the bill will return to the Senate, the support so far indicates that it will very likely pass both chambers, reaching the Governor.