Governor Signs Bill Allowing Volunteer Firefighters to Collect Cancer Benefits

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation allowing cancer-stricken volunteer firefighters to collect lump-sum benefits from the state as of Jan. 1, 2019.  Senate Bill 1411 allows the state's roughly 96,000 volunteer firefighters to collect:  $25,000 for a malignant tumor, provided that the tumor has metastasized or the cancer is terminal. $6,250 for either a carcinoma that requires treatment, a malignant tumor that can be treated by endoscopic procedures, or a malignant melanoma. $1,500 per month for up to three years, available as long as the firefighter cannot fight fires ...