Legislature Expands Cancer Coverage For Volunteer Firefighters

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is applauding the passage of legislation that provides presumptive cancer coverage for New York State’s volunteer firefighters.

The state Assembly approved the legislation today after the Senate passed the measure on Monday.

The legislation was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Joseph Griffo and co-sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.

A volunteer firefighter will be eligible for enhanced cancer disability benefits if the volunteer has served for at least five years as an interior firefighter, and has successfully passed a physical examination upon entering the volunteer service that initially did not show any signs of cancer.

The bill includes:

• A lump sum of $25,000 for any qualifying volunteer firefighter that contracts melanoma, as well as cancers of the digestive, hematological, lymphatic, urinary, prostate, neurological, breast, and reproductive systems.
• Thirty-six months of disability benefits (at $1,500 per month) in the event the volunteer firefighter is unable to work due to their illness.

A $50,000 death benefit for a volunteer firefighter’s family in the event should they succumb to cancer

FASNY is calling on the governor to sign the bill into law without delay.