Bill Would Require Local Governments to Compensate Firefighters Who Have Cancer

Georgia firefighters diagnosed with work-related cancers would receive a lump sum benefit of up to $25,000 from special insurance policies purchased by local governments, according to a bill wending its way through the legislature. House Bill 146 cleared the State and Local Government Operations Committee on Wednesday and now is before the Senate Rules Committee. It passed the House by a 171-1 margin on Feb. 7. The bill applies to cancers of the bladder, blood, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, intestinal, kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectum, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, thy...