HARTFORD -- A bill that would help protect firefighters financially has passed both the house and the senate. HB 5262 overwhelmingly passed the senate Tuesday, after passing through the house last Thursday without any opposition.
The bill will set up a cancer relief program for firefighters who come down with the disease and can no longer work. The program would compensate those firefighters for lost wages through expanded workers' compensation.
A subcommittee would determine eligibility and investigate if there's a link between the cancer and burning toxins at fire scenes.
"Every firefighter here can testify when you come home after going to a fire, your family smells that effect of the fire," Capt. Frank Ricci, the New Haven Firefighters Union President, said. "On your skin, coming out of your pores for probably two to three days after the fire."
The cancer relief program would disqualify firefighters who either smoke or have smoked within 15 years of applying for the benefit.
