Julie Kushner

STATEMENT OF SEN. KUSHNER ON NEW STATE LAW EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO DEVELOP CANCER TO RECEIVE WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS

“Firefighters who contract certain cancers will now have the presumption that it’s a work-related illness, and they will qualify for coverage for themselves and surviving members of their families. After many years, we’re finally taking responsibility as a community and as a state. We expect firefighters to protect our homes and our families, yet we’ve never been willing to protect them and care for them when they got sick. That’s why I’m really proud of the work that the legislature did to finally address this issue, to step-up and make sure that we’re taking responsibility to provide for the men and women who risk their lives every day to take care of us,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.

To qualify for the compensation and benefits, a firefighter must have been diagnosed with any condition of cancer affecting the brain or the skeletal, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary, or hematological systems. They must have had a physical examination after entering the service that failed to reveal any evidence of or a propensity for the cancer, and they must not have used cigarettes during the 15 years before the diagnosis. Additionally, they must have been on the job for at least five years and submitted to annual medical health screenings as recommended by their medical provider.

The legislation enacting this law was approved in the Senate by a vote of 35 to 1 and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 139 to 12.