Cancer protection for firefighters passes Senate; pressure now on House

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Tuesday, the Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill to give extra protection to firefighters diagnosed with cancer.

“The unanimous vote in favor of SB 426 gives our brave men and women in fire service the benefits they deserve. I am honored to have championed and ushered in protective legislation that is a win for the State of Florida and for an altruistic profession that overwhelmingly merits our full support,” Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said in a statement.

Watch: Time is running out for state lawmakers to help firefighters dealing with cancer

State Fire Marshal and CFO Jimmy Patronis praised the passage in the Senate, releasing a statement saying in part, “Our state is one of the few states that does not provide benefits for firefighters battling cancer and that must change this year. Seventy percent of firefighter line-of-duty deaths are cancer related and the men and women fighting this disease need to know that Florida stands with them.”

Read: 9 Investigates: Politics blocking cancer protections for Florida firefighters

The bill, which would provide $25,000 to firefighters diagnosed with cancer, had been a point of contention for weeks between the House and the Senate. The Senate version had moved swiftly through its committees, while the House version had not had a single hearing amid concerns from the speaker of the House.

However, last week Speaker José Oliva announced the House would reverse course and take up the bill, writing in a statement, that the House will “care of our first responders and argue about payment with cities and counties later.”

The Senate bill has now been sent to the House, where representatives are poised to take up their own version this week.