Carpino Hails Firefighter Cancer Relief Program

Hartford – State Representative Christie Carpino co-sponsored legislation helping protect former uniformed members of paid and volunteer fire departments. Those who are diagnosed with certain types of cancer as a result of their service as firefighters will now be eligible to receive financial assistance.

“These men and women put their health in jeopardy on a daily basis, it is crucial that health resources be available to them during and after their career. They risk their lives to take care of us and our families and we need to take care of them,” said Carpino. “Wednesday evening we set up a mechanism at the state level for firefighters who avail themselves of being diagnosed with cancer.”

The bill establishes a new, non-lapsing Firefighter Cancer Relief Account within the General Fund for the purposes of providing wage replacement benefits to fire personnel affected by certain cancer conditions. The funds in this account are to be used solely for the purposes of providing wage replacement benefits to firefighters that are diagnosed with certain forms of cancer.

The bill also lays out several eligibility requirements for one to receive wage replacement benefits, which is dictated by the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program. Reporting requirements will be expanded to include additional information on who was actually present at a fire and who was exposed, as well as the duration of the exposure.

The bill was unanimously passed by the House and awaits further action in the Senate.

###