State Rep. Stephen E. Barrar, R-160, of Boothwyn, announced
that the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, of which
he is chairman, unanimously reported legislation that would designate cancer as
an occupational disease for firefighters.
“All of our Pennsylvania firefighters put their lives on the
line to protect our communities, homes, businesses and lives,” said
Barrar. “They deserve recompense if they develop cancer as a direct
result of their firefighting duties.”
House Bill 797, authored by Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks),
would allow firefighters to receive workers’ compensation if they develop
cancer and can establish direct exposure to certain carcinogens while
responding to an incident. To be eligible for workers’ compensation, he
or she would have to have participated in continuous firefighting duty for four
or more years and have successfully passed a physical exam prior to asserting
the claim or engaging in firefighting duties.
A similar measure was vetoed in 2010 by then Gov. Ed Rendell
due to concerns raised by local governments. Barrar, Farry and other
members of the committee reached out to local governments and advocacy groups
to arrive at a compromise on the bill’s language, and many of the groups that
previously opposed the bill have changed their stance.
“This is the right thing to do for Pennsylvania’s
firefighters,” said Barrar. “I will continue to advocate for this
legislation until it is finally signed into law because the service provided by
our firefighters warrants this type of benefit.”
House Bill 797 will now go before the full House for
consideration.
About Press Release
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...
Comments