A newly enacted Connecticut presumption law, more than a decade in the making, provides compensation and benefits to fire fighters diagnosed with cancer.
“There have been a lot of hours spent lobbying and building relationships to get to this moment,” said Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association (UPFFA) of Connecticut President Peter Brown. “With this new law, fire fighters will not only be able to get wage replacement, but will also be eligible for medical reimbursement, disability retirement, and line-of-duty death benefits in case of cancer.”
To qualify for the compensation and benefits, which went into effect Oct. 1, fire fighters must have been diagnosed with any condition of cancer affecting the brain or the skeletal, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary, or hematological systems.
Additionally, fire fighters must have had a physical examination after entering the service that showed no signs of cancer, kept up with annual medical health screenings, been smokefree during the 15 years before the diagnosis, and been on the job for at least five years.
The legislation enacting this law received strong support, passing in the Senate with a vote of 35 to 1 and in the House of Representatives with a vote of 139 to 12.
Over the years, the legislation faced obstacles due to opposition from local governments and insurers who expressed concern about its costs.
The new law is funded through the Firefighters’ Cancer Relief Fund, a component of the state budget rather than workers’ compensation. This move eased the concerns of previous opponents of the legislation.
“All of us know that the chances of us contracting cancer due to on-the-job exposures are high. That is why this new presumption law is so important,” said 3rd District Vice President Jay Colbert. “It ensures that they don’t have to worry about missed days on the job or medical reimbursements. And, if the worst happens, it ensures that their families will be taken care of.”
“The UPFFA is very grateful for all the assistance the IAFF and 3rd District Vice President did to help us finally get this important legislation over the finish line,” said Brown.
More than 10 Connecticut members have already filed claims under the new law.
