"New York is forever grateful to the 96,000 volunteer
firefighters who selflessly put their own personal safety at risk in order to
keep their neighbors and communities safe, Governor Cuomo said. "With this
measure, we will provide these courageous New Yorkers the protections they need
and the peace of mind they deserve."
Currently, volunteer firefighters are eligible for
accidental disability and death benefits through Workers' Compensation if they
are injured in the line of duty. Effective January 1, 2019, firefighters will
also be eligible for health benefits to support treatment for life-threatening conditions.
Under the bill (S1411B- A711B), volunteer firefighters who
contract certain cancers will receive access to tax free disability and death
benefits. Specifically, volunteer firefighters diagnosed with lung, prostate,
breast, lymphatic, hematological, digestive, urinary, neurological,
reproductive systems, or melanoma cancer will be automatically eligible for
health benefits if:
• Upon entry to volunteer, a physical exam did not show any
evidence of the cancers covered by this bill;
• Individuals have at least five years of service fighting
fire in the interior of buildings; and
• The firefighter is currently active or within 5 years of
his or her last active date.
John P. Sroka, President of the New York State Association
of Fire Chiefs said, "All firefighters, regardless of whether they are
paid or volunteer, fight identical fires. Because of this, all firefighters
should be treated equally and receive equal benefits in the event of a cancer
diagnosis. Thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature,
this is now a reality. New York's selfless volunteers, who sacrifice so much to
protect all of us, now have the benefits that they need. The Fire Chiefs of New
York applaud Governor Cuomo and the Legislature for their actions today and
throughout this year's session."
