North Carolina S97 expands the definition of "killed in the line of duty" for firefighters to include certain cancers.

North Carolina S97 adds stomach cancer to the list of occupationally related cancers that qualify a firefighter's death as "killed in the line of duty" under the Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. The bill also appropriates $500,000 annually for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to cover benefits for these qualifying deaths. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to deaths occurring on or after that date.

North Carolina S97 expands the definition of "killed in the line of duty" for firefighters to include certain cancers.

North Carolina S97 adds stomach cancer to the list of occupationally related cancers that qualify a firefighter's death as "killed in the line of duty" under the Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. The bill also appropriates $500,000 annually for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to cover benefits for these qualifying deaths. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to deaths occurring on or after that date.