2007 House Bill 4401

Establish firefighters’ cancer presumption

Introduced in the House

March 6, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Steve Tobocman (D-12)

To establish a presumption for non-volunteer firefighters who have been on the job for at least two years that cases of certain types of cancer arose out of and in the course of employment for purposes of granting workers compensation benefits, unless there is evidence to the contrary, and unless the person has been a consistent cigarette smoker any time during the past five years.

Referred to the Committee on Labor

Oct. 23, 2007

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

Dec. 11, 2007

Amendment offered by Rep. Lorence Wenke (R-63)

To require the state to pay the additional workers compensation expenses the bill would impose on local governments.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Lorence Wenke (R-63)

To only apply the presumption to firefighters who have not smoked "for five or more years," rather than in the past five years.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Lorence Wenke (R-63)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that increases workers compensation benefits for firefighters who get cancer if they have no other pension benefits.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Steve Tobocman (D-12)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that only applies the presumption to firefighters who have been employed as such for the past last 5 years.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Dec. 12, 2007

Amendment offered by Rep. Lorence Wenke (R-63)

To only apply the presumption to firefighters who have been employed as such for the past last 10 years.

The amendment failed 36 to 72 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Lorence Wenke (R-63)

To require the state to pay the additional workers compensation expenses the bill would impose on local governments.

The amendment failed 52 to 54 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Glenn Steil (R-72)

To only apply the presumption to firefighters who have not smoked in the last 10 years.

The amendment failed 29 to 76 (details)

Passed in the House 81 to 27 (details)

To establish a presumption for non-volunteer firefighters who have been on the job for at least five years that cases of certain types of cancer arose out of and in the course of employment for purposes of granting workers compensation benefits, unless there is evidence to the contrary, and unless the person has been a consistent cigarette smoker any time during the past five years.

Motion by Rep. Kathy Angerer (D-55)

To give the bill immediate effect.

The motion passed 80 to 26 (details)

Received in the Senate

Jan. 9, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism