Relates to requiring coverage for volunteer firefighters for full cancer screenings upon entry of service to a fire department or fire company and annually thereafter; provides that the costs of such screenings shall be covered by the state.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8466A
SPONSOR: Buttenschon TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, in relation to
coverage for cancer screenings
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to coverage for cancer screenings for volunteer firefighters
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the volunteer firefighters' law by adding a new para-
graph (q). Section 2 establishes the effective date
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
Clarifies that costs will be entirely covered by the state of New York
JUSTIFICATION:
The volunteer fire service ranks over the past ten years have decreased.
The need to provide our communities with healthy firefighters to answer
the call is what New York State should be doing to retain a healthy
volunteer force within our communities. Since 2015, cancer has been
considered an epidemic by the fire service. Most recent statistics have
shown that an increase in firefighters having cancer is on the rise.
Volunteer firefighters deal with increasing dangers that encompass more
than just knocking down deadly flames. These dangers also include
significant risks to mental and physical health including occupational
cancer. Occupational cancer is a danger that not only affects the fire-
fighter, but it also extends to their family, community and department
they serve. This legislation will work to ensure the safety of our fire-
fighters by providing cancer screenings upon entry to the force, and
annually thereafter.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Fiscal implication to the state under article 2 of the Volunteer Fire-
fighters Benefit Law
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
