Case, Miner Support Connecticut Firefighters

Hartford – State Representative Jay Case and Craig Miner supported legislation helping current and former uniformed members of paid and volunteer fire departments. Firefighters who suffer from certain diseases as a result of performing their jobs will now be eligible to receive state financial assistance from the Firefighter Cancer Relief Program.

“Tonight we set up a mechanism at the state level to ensure that funds will be available to cover health costs our firefighters incur after being diagnosed with cancer,” said Miner. “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.”

“I want to thank Rep. Miner for his work on the bill. It was passed in a bi-partisan nature and 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,” said Case. “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. Some of the qualifications include no smoking or tobacco usage within past 15 years of applying, initial physical exam upon being hired did not initially indicate cancer, and the applicant has worked for at least five years on or after the effective date as an interior structural firefighter or marshal, investigator, or inspector.

According to the bill, in order to fund the program money will be diverted from the current e911 fee on phone bills and directed to the Firefighter Cancer Relief Account.

There are also expanded reporting requirements to include additional information on who was actually present at a fire and who was exposed, as well as the duration of the exposure.

After being unanimously passed by the House, the bill now awaits further action in the Senate.

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