Only Thing Between Firefighters and Cancer Payouts is Governor's Signature

A bill that would award firefighters diagnosed with work-related cancers lump sum payments of up to $25,000 is awaiting Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature. House Bill 146 passed the Georgia Senate 52-0 and the House 166-1 earlier this month. Deal last spring vetoed a firefighter cancer-presumption bill that would have awarded workers’ compensation, and he asked lawmakers to craft a new solution with less of an impact on taxpayers. Under HB 146, the benefits would come from special insurance policies purchased by local governments, for a lifetime maximum payout of $50,000. If...