Following last year’s legislative session, several bills that were important to House members were vetoed by the Governor. In most cases, the bills’ authors have worked in the off-session to address the Governors’ concerns. The modified bills are beginning to reappear in committee this year. House Bill 146 is one of these initiatives.
HB 146 is legislation that mandates county and local governments provide insurance, specifically cancer coverage, to firefighters.
In 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began a multi-year study to better understand the link between firefighting and cancer. The study found firefighters showed higher-than-expected rates of certain types of cancer as compared to the general U.S. population. The findings suggested that firefighters may be at higher risk for digestive, oral, respiratory, and urinary system cancers.
HB 146 mandates an insurance policy that requires a lump sum payment to any firefighter diagnosed with certain types of cancers. It also mandates up to 3 years of disability payments to a firefighter who, because of injury or illness, cannot work as a firefighter. To be eligible, a firefighter must have served 12 consecutive months as a firefighter with a specific fire department. The cancers that are covered and listed in the legislation are those that occur at a higher rate in firefighters than in other occupations.
Last year, the firefighter-related initiative was vetoed because the benefit to firefighters was going to be paid out of the state worker’s compensation system. Some groups were opposed to this plan because they felt that firefighters were getting a benefit over others in the state worker’s compensation system, others who might also develop job-related cancers. This year’s legislation is designed around benefits being paid from an insurance policy that is unconnected to the workman’s comp system.
The lobbyist groups that represent city and county governments at the Capitol have stated support for this year’s legislation.
It is my privilege to represent the citizens of House District 28 in the General Assembly. If I can be of service, please contact me at [email protected] or 404-656-0325.
About the author: Rep. Dan Gasaway (R-Homer) represents the 28th GA House District. His district includes Stephens and Banks Counties and the southern end of Habersham. Rep. Gasaway is Secretary of the House Human Relations & Aging and Natural Resources & Environment House Committees. He also serves on the House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Higher Education, and Insurance Committees.
