Section 58-86A-3 - [Effective 7/1/2025] EligibilityTo be eligible to receive benefits under the Program, a firefighter:
(1) Must meet either of the following criteria: a. Have served in a North Carolina fire department or in a fire department on a military base in North Carolina for a minimum of five continuous years; provided, however, if a firefighter, during those five years, experiences a lapse in service of no more than six months, the firefighter shall not be ineligible to receive benefits under the Program.b. Have been included on the certified roster submitted to the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association pursuant to G.S. 58-86-25 for a period of no more than 10 years as "retired/nonactive" after the firefighter no longer meets the definition of the term "firefighter" under G.S. 58-84-5(3a).(2) Must have received a new diagnosis of cancer on or after January 1, 2022. A firefighter with a diagnosis of cancer prior to January 1, 2022, is not eligible for benefits in the Program for that previously diagnosed cancer type but remains eligible for benefits in the Program upon diagnosis of any other cancer type, even if the other cancer type diagnosed on or after January 1, 2022, metastasized from a cancer diagnosed before January 1, 2022. A firefighter is not eligible to receive benefits under the Program if the firefighter is receiving benefits related to cancer under the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act established in Article 1 of Chapter 97 of the General Statutes.N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-86A-3
Added by 2024 N.C. Sess. Laws 29,s. 10.1, eff. 7/1/2025, applicable to the distribution of net proceeds of the gross premiums tax collected on or after that date.