Cuomo signs bill providing cancer benefits for volunteer firefighters
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Sunday that extends health care benefits to volunteer firefighters who develop certain types of cancer during their time with their department.
The new law, which goes into effect beginning in 2019, will provide benefits to volunteers who develop lung, prostate, breast, lymphatic, hematological, digestive, urinary, neurological, reproductive system or melanoma cancer. Firefighters would have to prove that their entry physical exam did not show evidence of cancers covered under the law, they have at least five years of interior firefighting service and they are current active or were active within the last five years.
“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,” Cuomo said in a statement. “With this measure, we will provide these courageous New Yorkers the protections they need and the peace of mind they deserve.”
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/278061/cuomo-signs-bill-providing-cancer-benefits-for-volunteer-firefighters/