Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Protect Firefighters from
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1830
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: BAGSHAW, TALBOT ROSS

Legislative Document
No. 1830
H.P. 1225
House of Representatives, April 30, 2025
Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Protect Firefighters from 
Cancer
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BAGSHAW of Windham.
Cosponsored by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland and
Representatives: HEPLER of Woolwich, LANCE of Paris, SUPICA of Bangor, Senators: 
DUSON of Cumberland, HICKMAN of Kennebec, RAFFERTY of York, RENY of Lincoln, 
TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Sec. 1.  Pilot program established. Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Public 
Safety shall establish the firefighter early detection cancer screening pilot program.
1. All active and retired firefighters must be offered a comprehensive early detection 
cancer screening that consists of any combination of one or more of the following tests: a 
blood test, an ultrasound of vital organs and a computed tomography, or CT, scan of the 
lungs.  As used in this resolve, "firefighter" means a municipal firefighter or volunteer 
firefighter, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 3151, subsections 
and 4, respectively.
2. Vendors with the ability to conduct the following tests must be preferred:
A. A multi-cancer blood test that detects signals from as many cancer types as possible, 
including those that are commonly unscreened; and
B. An echocardiogram, a carotid doppler and an ultrasound diagnostic that screens, at 
minimum, abdominal aorta, thyroid, liver, gallbladder, spleen, bladder, kidney, 
prostate, testicles and exterior pelvis for females. 
Sec. 2.  Committee. Resolved:  That, within 90 days of the effective date of this 
resolve, a committee consisting of representatives from an association of professional 
firefighters, an association of fire chiefs and the Department of Public Safety, with 
oversight from the Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner's designee, shall 
present to the commissioner and the Governor the committee's initial plan to administer the 
pilot program, which must consist of: 
1. Known vendors who can provide appropriate screenings; 
2. Location and time to provide screenings; and
3. Administrative requirements to: 
A. Notify firefighters of the pilot program; 
B. Register and screen firefighters; 
C. Document findings; and
D. Provide ongoing recommendations to the Legislature. 
Sec. 3.  Participation optional. Resolved:  That firefighter participation in cancer 
screenings is optional and a firefighter is eligible to receive any combination of offered 
screenings. 
Sec. 4.  Term. Resolved:  That the term of the pilot program must be not more than 
months from the date of a plan approval by the Governor and the Commissioner of 
Public Safety, unless the Governor grants a request for an extension. 
Sec. 5.  Self-funded screenings. Resolved:  That an active or retired firefighter 
who self-funds any portion of the screenings provided by the pilot program after January 
1, 2025 may submit for reimbursement of such costs, not to exceed $1,300 from the pilot 
program.  The firefighter must submit required documentation for reimbursement. 
Sec. 6.  Committee findings. Resolved:  That the committee under section 2 shall 
present the committee's findings to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters after 12 months and again after 
months of the pilot program's administration.  These findings must include the number 
of firefighters screened; tests conducted; results of tests; follow-up testing to confirm the 
results of the screening; costs of follow-up tests and method of payment, including the 
firefighters' share of the costs; and any recommendations for the pilot program.  All 
providers of services shall ensure the name and any other personally identifiable 
information of the individual is removed prior to providing results to the committee. 
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to establish the firefighter 
early detection cancer screening pilot program.