(a) The California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program is hereby established. The Legislature requests the University of California to develop and administer a competitive grant program for the purpose of awarding grants to eligible educational institutions to conduct research on the California fire service using a community-based participatory research model in collaboration with California firefighters. The research shall include, but not be limited to, understanding of biomarkers of exposure that quantify chemical carcinogens absorbed and metabolized by firefighters and studying biomarkers of effect that quantify cancer-promoting cellular changes that ultimately lead to a cancer diagnosis.

(b) The University of California, in consultation with the FIRESCOPE Program, shall develop the strategic objectives and priorities of the program and receive and evaluate applications of eligible educational institutions.

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(c) The FIRESCOPE Program shall make the final recommendations to the University of California on which research grants should be funded based on the research priorities established for the program and the technical merits of the proposals as determined by peer review panels modeled upon the National Institutes of Health peer review process.

(d) The University of California, in consultation with the FIRESCOPE Program, shall prepare a report, to be submitted to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025, and on or before January 1, 2030. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The number and dollar amounts of research grants that have been awarded.

(2) The name of each eligible educational institution receiving grant awards.

(3) The name of each fire department working with the eligible educational institution conducting research funded by a grant awarded under this section.

(4) A summary of research findings from the research funded by a grant awarded under this section.

(e) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under this section is inoperative on January 1, 2031, pursuant to § 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(2) A report to be submitted under this section shall be submitted in compliance with § 9795 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 268, Sec. 2. (AB 700) Effective January 1, 2024.)