Cancer presumption for firefighters passes state House

Posted by Press Release on June 22, 2011

State Rep. Stephen E. Barrar, R-160, of Boothwyn, lauded House
passage of legislation that would designate cancer as an occupational disease
for professional and volunteer firefighters.

“Pennsylvania’s brave firefighters risk their lives every
time they answer an emergency call, and they deserve to know they will be
appropriately compensated if they develop cancer as a direct result of their
firefighting duties,” said Barrar.

“We have worked long and hard to draft legislation that will
acknowledge the cancer risk faced by firefighters, while considering the
concerns of local governments. House Bill 797 represents an appropriate
compromise, and I am hopeful it will make it to the governor’s desk in the near
future.”

House Bill 797 is sponsored by Rep. Frank Farry
(R-Bucks). It would allow firefighters to receive workers’ compensation
if they develop cancer and can establish direct exposure to certain carcinogens
while responding to an incident.

Barrar, who is the majority chairman of the House Veterans
Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, noted that similar legislation
was vetoed last year by former Gov. Ed Rendell.

“Pennsylvania citizens have a vested interest in ensuring
that men and women continue to volunteer for the fire services.
Volunteers save billions of dollars for communities across the
Commonwealth. We ask a lot of our volunteers, but asking them to foot the
bill for their own cancer treatments – for cancers they would not have
contracted had they not served the community – is asking too much,” said
Barrar. “This legislation is about taking responsibility for those who
take care of us, and showing compassion for those who develop a terrible disease
as a result of their own heroism.”

House Bill 797 will now go to the Senate for consideration.