ALBANY – A bill that would give volunteer firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer increased benefits and protection has passed in both houses of the state legislature and heads to the governor’s desk.
The measure, sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, Forestburgh), will provide the volunteers with health coverage similar to what paid firefighters have.
“This will encourage more people to join the volunteer fire companies as well as have some protection during exposure,” Gunther said. “We all remember 9/11 and our volunteers were down in New York City. They fight fires every day. They keep our families safe and we want to keep them safe by offering this kind of coverage and if there is an exposure and there is an incident report, then they will have some coverage.”
The bill would help volunteer firefighters with their medical bills by providing a lump sum payment of either $6,250 or $25,000, depending on the severity of their diagnosis. It also creates a 36-month, $1,500 monthly benefit for firefighters who become disabled, and a $50,000 accidental death benefit for families. That, Gunther said, represents a significant improvement over the current limit of $600 per month for disabled volunteer firefighters.
James Skoufis (D, Woodbury) was a co-sponsor of the bill in the Assembly
and John Bonacic (R, Mt. Hope) co-sponsored it in the Senate.
Military training conducted at West Point
May 10, 2024
