Senate passes volunteer firefighter cancer coverage again; Griffo urges Assembly to approve

ALBANY – State Senator Joseph Griffo announced today that the New York State Senate has once again passed a bill that would expand benefit coverage for volunteer firefighters who are diagnosed with various forms of cancer linked to their duties.

This is the second time the Senate has approved this proposed legislation, as well as being included in the Senate Budget Resolution. Now, Senator Griffo is urging the Assembly to vote on this important bill and pass it so that it can be presented to the Governor.

The overexposure to smoke that volunteer firefighters experience every time they battle flames makes it more likely that they will develop lung cancer. The exposure to smoke and toxic fumes also creates greater risk that a firefighter will develop cancer in other parts of their body, like their esophagus, stomach, blood, intestines and brain.

This legislation (S3891) – co-sponsored by Senator Griffo, R-Rome – would expand existing coverage under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law to include cancer of the digestive, hematological, lymphatic, urinary, prostate, neurological, breast and reproductive systems. After a volunteer firefighter has entered the fire service upon successfully passing a physical examination that did not reveal any evidence of cancer, it will be presumed that any cancerous conditions that develop later are the result of that firefighter performing their duties, according to the bill.

Senator Griffo said: “Our volunteer firefighters desperately want to see these benefits expanded so they know they will not be left to suffer on their own as a result of their sacrifice to protect the lives and property of our communities. The State Senate has made clear that we stand with these brave men and women at a time when they need us most, and I hope that the Assembly and Governor will finally join us in expanding benefit coverage to protect our volunteer firefighters against duty-related cancer.”

This legislation is sponsored by Senator Michael Nozzolio, R-Seneca Falls, and a companion bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-Forestburgh.