Oregon Governor Signs Fire Fighter Cancer Presumption Bill

Pictured (from left) after Governor Kulongoski signed the bill: House Speaker Dave Hunt, Representative and Local 1062 President Greg Matthews, Governor Ted Kulongoski, OSFFC President Kelly Bach, OSFFC Legislative Director Bob Livingston

April 28, 2009 – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has signed state legislation (HB 2420) expanding the list of cancers presumed to be work-related for Oregon fire fighters. The law is effective January 1, 2010.

“This was a very proud moment for Oregon fire fighters,” says Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC) President Kelly Bach. “Over the last two legislative sessions, the OSFFC has really ramped up its political action. We can now see that all of that work has paid off.”

The key components of OSFFC’s political action strategy included reaching out to employer groups and electing a fire fighter to the state legislature. With tremendous support from Oregon’s fire fighters, Gresham, OR Local 1062 President Greg Matthews defeated an incumbent for the Oregon House District 50 seat in November 2008.

HB 2420 passed the Oregon Senate 27-1 on March 5, 2009, after passing the state House 55-1 a few weeks earlier.

The current law covers heart and lung presumption. HB 2420 adds 12 types of cancer to the list presumed to be job related.