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Georgia Firefighter Standards & Training Council Issues Proposed Amendments to Rules for Cancer Insurance Coverage

7/31/17

By: Pamela F. Everett

On July 14, 2017, we published a blog regarding House Bill 146 which amended O.C.G.A. §25-3-23 to provide cancer insurance coverage to fire fighters. This Bill, which becomes effective January 1, 2018, requires that all Georgia cities, counties and private companies with legally organized fire departments purchase and maintain cancer insurance coverage for firefighters.   In this blog, we noted that the Georgia Firefighter Standards & Training Council (GFSTC) had been authorized to adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this new Code section and to establish and modify the minimum requirements for all fire departments operating in Georgia.

On July 19, 2017, GFSTC issued its proposed changes to its 2016 Rules & Regulations, specifically, Section 205-1-2-.02 Minimum Requirements for Fire Departments, for comment to fire departments throughout the state.

The proposed changes are as follows:

  1. All legally organized fire departments are required to purchase and maintain coverage in compliance with O.C.G.A. §25-3-23(b);
  2. All cities and counties using Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and Georgia Municipal Association for insurance coverage are required to provide proof of insurance coverage for all personnel;
  3. All departments using other insurance carries or means of being self-insured shall provide a copy of the policy, council/commission resolution or other proof of coverage; and
  4. All GFSTC Compliance Packages must now contain a copy of an insurance certificate or other proof of coverage that complies with O.C.G.A. §25-3-23(b).

We will continue to keep you apprised of developments in this area as they occur. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Pamela Everett at peverett@fmglaw.com .