Bill to expand volunteer firefighter cancer coverage heads to Gov. Cuomo’s desk

A bill to expand health care benefits for volunteer firefighters has passed both houses of New York State Legislature.

The bill, co-sponsored by New York State Senators Fred Akshar and Tom O’Mara, would expand the “Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law” to provide presumptive cancer coverage to New York’s volunteer firefighters.

“Our volunteer firefighters make great sacrifices to protect the health, safety and well-being of lives and property throughout our communities. They deserve and they’ve earned the health care coverage this legislation would provide,” said O’Mara. “It’s the least we can do for our volunteer firefighters and their families.”

Under the bill, volunteer firefighters who contract cancers would receive a lump sum of $25,000 and 36 months of disability benefits, should the firefighter be unable to work due to their illness.

Families of volunteer firefighters who die due to cancer would receive a $50,000 death benefit.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) praised the bill’s passage. FASNY President Ken Pienkowski issued the following statement:

“Today is a great day for the 110,000 men and women of the Volunteer Fire Service who place themselves in harm’s way to protect their fellow New Yorkers. The Assembly and the State Senate have passed legislation that grants presumptive cancer coverage to volunteers, something that is sorely needed as rates of firefighter cancer continue to rise. FASNY is grateful to sponsors State Senator Joseph Griffo, Assemblymember Aileen Gunther, and Assemblymember Anthony Brindisi for shepherding this bill through the legislative process. We also would like to thank the leadership of the legislature for their critical support, including State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. We are also extremely grateful to Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, who has long championed this issue and has been a strong advocate for the volunteer fire service. We now call upon Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign this bill into law without delay, and ensure that New York’s volunteer firefighters have the protections than 21st century firefighting requires.”

The bill awaits signature from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.