Albany, NY - May 4, 2016 - Under the leadership of officers from four of the largest fire service organizations in New York State, volunteer and career firefighters descended on the Capitol today for their annual “Government Affairs Day,” meeting with their elected representatives to discuss the Issues of United Concern. While the participating organizations support a variety of legislation, the unquestioned, universal priority for 2016 is presumptive cancer coverage for volunteer firefighters. A full list of the Issues of United Concern for 2016 can be found below.
The presumptive cancer coverage bill (S. 3891 / A. 5518) is sponsored by State Senator Michael Nozzolio and Assemblymember Aileen Gunther. It unanimously passed the State Senate on April 11 and is now before the Assembly Local Governments Committee. The bill expands the already existing Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law (VFBL) to cover all instances of melanoma, as well as cancers of the lymphatic, digestive, hematological, urinary, prostate, neurological, breast, and reproductive systems. VFBL functions much like workers’ compensation, in that it provides medical coverage for injuries and illness sustained in the line of duty.
Although fire service leaders and organizations have implemented robust education and awareness campaigns in an effort to lower cancer rates, the truth is that cancer is endemic to firefighting. Firefighters are routinely exposed to smoke, toxins, and other cancer-causing agents in the line of duty, which account for much higher diagnosis rates than the general population. Fires have become even more dangerous in recent years as synthetic materials have become commonplace in building and furniture construction. This, coupled with the ubiquitous presence of electronics in homes and offices, means that modern fires are more toxic than ever before, and produce a much greater volume of carcinogens.
“As a volunteer firefighter and cancer survivor, I am intimately familiar with this issue,” said Daniel Schwertfeger, President of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. “Volunteer firefighters gladly and willingly sacrifice their time, their safety, and too often, their health in service to their communities. No firefighter, career or volunteer, should have to face cancer alone.”
“We are grateful to the State Senate for acting in the best interests of New York’s volunteer firefighters, and unanimously passing this critical legislation,” said President Robert McConville, President of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. “The onus is now squarely on the Assembly to do the right thing, and protect those who sacrifice to serve their communities. This is a benefit that career firefighters rightfully enjoy, but fires, and the cancers they cause, do not discriminate. Neither should the New York State Assembly.”
“The Fire Districts of New York stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of our brothers and sisters,” said Tom Rinaldi, First Vice President of the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York. “We do not foresee a major escalation in insurance premiums, but regardless, the cost is immaterial. We simply cannot put a price on a benefit that our volunteer firefighters need and deserve. Their health and well-being are paramount.”
“The nature of firefighting has changed,” said Richard Martinkovic, President of the County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York. “Fires today are far more toxic than those of just a few years ago. The proliferation of synthetic materials and electronics means that even a simple house fire produces a staggering variety of carcinogens. Presumptive cancer coverage is necessary to protect 21st century firefighters against 21st century dangers.”
Other groups present at Government Affairs Day included the Volunteer Fire Police Association of New York State and the New York State Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association. The New York State Building Officials Conference attended as well, to lend their support for the Issues of United Concern.
2016 Issues of United Concern
CANCER PRESUMPTION – Amend the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law, adding a new section 11-d to provide a presumption that a volunteer firefighter who was cancer-free when they commenced service and now has one of several specifically identified cancers incurred such condition in the performance and discharge of their duties. (A.5518 Gunther / S.3891 Nozzolio)
CODE ENFORCEMENT/ILLEGAL CONVERSIONS – Enact legislation to provide criminal sanctions and/or enhanced civil penalties when unauthorized, illegal modifications to buildings in violation of the Uniform Code and/or local laws create conditions that are hazardous to ingress, egress, and/or firefighting efforts. Numerous injuries/deaths to residents and firefighters have occurred in such circumstances. Three existing bills deal with Uniform Code enforcement and toughened sanctions: S.291-B Martins / A.6154-A Schimel, S.1189 Carlucci / A.2865 Zebrowski, and S.4638 Martins / A.5856 Zebrowski. One bill would create a felony when such a violation impedes egress and results in injury or death to emergency personnel (including firefighters) – (S.1188-A Carlucci / A.5539-A Zebrowski).
FAIR BILLING FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE – Remove the prohibition in the General Municipal Law against fire companies, departments, or districts billing for providing ambulance service. Municipal and volunteer ambulance services provide exactly the same services and they can bill Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers; emergency medical services units within firefighting entities cannot exclusively because of this prohibition. (S.1914 Little / A.3721 Brindisi)
PERMIT EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AS FIRE SCIENCE INSTRUCTORS – Retired firefighters who are less than 65 years of age who are employed as fire science instructors by state or local governments risk severe pension reduction penalties under present law. Addition of a new section 214-C to the Retirement and Social Security Law would remove this impediment to obtaining experienced and highly qualified instructors. (S.2747 Larkin / A.4876 Gunther)
UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE SAFETY – Enact legislation to eliminate/reduce use of carcinogenic, toxic chemicals in “flame retardant” furniture. (S.5585 O’Mara; S.3844 Ritchie / A.7837 Brindisi)
INCREASE PERMANENT DISABILITY BENEFITS IN VFBL/VAWBL – The amount payable in permanent total disability benefits has not been increased since 1998. Enact legislation to create an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). (S.1000-A Funke / A.5133 Morelle)
About FASNY
Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the more than 90,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.
About the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs
Organized in 1904 the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs represents nearly 11,000 career and volunteer chiefs throughout New York State. For additional information visit, www.nysfirechiefs.com
About the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York
The Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, a not-for-profit corporation, works to improve the fiscal responsibility, efficiency and effectiveness of the fire district management through education, training and advocacy for commissioners and other fire district officials in the 57 counties outside of the City of New York.
About the County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York
The County Fire Coordinator’s Association of the State of New York is a professional non-profit organization whose membership consists of active County Fire Coordinators and their Deputies. The organization provides a mechanism for these fire officials to meet and discuss issues amongst themselves and with partners at the state level, and to represent issues important to their mission and responsibilities.