OLR Report 2016-R-0018
describes how laws in nearby states create a presumption that a firefighter's
cancer was caused by his or her work as a firefighter, thus entitling the
firefighter to workers’ compensation or other benefits.
Among the
northeastern states that allow a presumption for firefighters’ cancer, Maine,
Pennsylvania, and Vermont provide benefits through the employer’s workers’
compensation insurance coverage (paid by the employer). Alternatively, Massachusetts, New York (whose
law appears to have expired in 2005), and Rhode Island use the presumption when
determining a firefighter’s eligibility for disability retirement
benefits.
For more
information, read the full report here.
This past
legislative session, Connecticut passed a law (PA
16-10) that creates the firefighters cancer relief program to provide wage
replacement benefits to eligible paid and volunteer firefighters diagnosed with
cancer. The program will be administered
by a new cancer relief subcommittee of the Connecticut State Firefighters
Association and funded through a diversion of funds from the enhanced emergency
9-1-1-program, which is funded by a monthly subscriber fee on phone service.
