Report: Firefighters Pushing for Vote on Presumption Bills

Thursday, April 27, 2017 | 0

Arizona firefighters gathered outside the state Capitol on Tuesday to request the Senate call for a final vote on bills that would expand the types of cancers covered by an existing presumption and create a new presumption that heart issues are compensable injuries, according to a report by the Arizona Republic.

House Bill 2410, by Rep. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, would create presumption that heart-related, perivascular and pulmonary cases are compensable injuries for firefighters.

House Bill 2161, by Rep. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, would add 10 forms of cancer to an existing presumption, including cancers of the throat, intestine, lung, kidney, prostate, skin and stomach.

The House on Feb. 21 voted 55-3 to pass HB 2410. On the same day, it voted 54-4 to pass HB 2161.

Both measures have cleared committees in the Senate and can be called for a final vote in the upper chamber at any time.

Lawmakers were scheduled to adjourn by April 22 but still have to finalize a budget for 2018 before they can end the session.

The Arizona Republic said most people paying $1 to participate in an annual pool to guess the last day of the session are assuming the Legislature will adjourn by May 4.