2026 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

26107943D

HOUSE BILL NO. 393

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations

on February 13, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Askew)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 9.1 a section numbered 9.1-208.2, relating to Firefighters Cancer Screening Grant Program and Fund; established.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 9.1 a section numbered 9.1-208.2 as follows:

§ 9.1-208.2. Firefighters Cancer Screening Grant Program and Fund; established.

A. As used in this section:

"Department" means the Department of Fire Programs.

"Eligible screening test" means an ultrasound cancer detection test or a multi-cancer detection test.

"Firefighter" means the same as that term is defined in § 9.1-300.

B. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the First Responders Cancer Screening Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of awarding grants to localities pursuant to subsection C. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Executive Director of the Department.

C. The Firefighters Cancer Screening Grant Program (the Program) is hereby established for the purpose of awarding grants from such funds as may be available from the Fund to localities for costs incurred in providing eligible screening tests to firefighters in an amount less than or equal to $350 per eligible screening. The Program shall be administered by the Department. In administering the Program, the Department shall establish and publish guidelines and criteria for grant awards, including (i) an application process to include the number of eligible screening tests provided to firefighters, and (ii) required data collection efforts on the part of a locality that receives a grant, to include the results from eligible screening tests provided due to a grant award from the Fund, employment or workplace exposure history, demographics and any other elements prescribed by the Department.

2. If in any year the amount of funds in the Firefighters Cancer Screening Fund (the Fund) reduces to zero and the Fund is not funded by a separate appropriation in the appropriation act for any year thereafter, this section shall expire on July 1 of the fiscal year in which the Firefighters Cancer Screening Fund fails to receive such funding.