BACKGROUND

This is an ethical and moral issue. Firefighters endure painful heat, burns, and injuries as they risk their lives to save lives in their communities every time they run into a burning building. The leading cause of death for firefighters isn't burns, its cancer. Due to the burning of modern materials made from synthetics, firefighters are exposed to very toxic carcinogens in today's fire service.

34 states in the U.S., excluding Ohio, have Presumptive Cancer laws to provide Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) benefits to firefighters who develop cancer. These laws assume when a firefighter develops cancer, the cancer is job related.

These laws are based on irrefutable medical and scientific evidence showing firefighters have significant increased risk of developing all types of cancers, some as high as 102%.

BWC benefits allow firefighters to receive the medical care they need to treat their cancer. Without BWC benefits firefighters often max out their insurance policies and are unable to afford treatment. Presumptive Cancer legislation has been presented before the Ohio Insurance Committees in the House and Senate several times in the past, but the legislation has been lobbied against using taxpayer dollars by the Ohio Municipal League and the legislation has never made it out of committee.

CALL TO ACTION

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens of the State of Ohio who urge the Ohio Insurance Committees of the House and Senate to support H.B. 292 and S.B. 27 (Presumptive Cancer Legislation) and allow these bills to be presented for a vote to the floors of the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate in the 131st General Assembly.