BoC approve resolution for Firefighters’ Cancer Benefit Program Proposal

Paulding Board of Commissioners last week voted to approve a resolution to adopt the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia-Interlocal Risk Management Agency (ACCG-IRMA) Firefighter’s Cancer Benefit Program proposal for coverage and to authorize the Chairman to sign and submit the resolution. Recent legislation gives firefighter’s locally and around the state some needed support.
House Bill 146 was signed into law earlier this year and slated to begin on January 1. Paulding County Fire Chief Joey Pelfrey addressed commissioners last week about the increased coverage. “Firefighters are exposed to a lot of toxic fire residue, hazardous materials; studies have shown that they contract cancer. We’ve had some die during the passage of this bill due to what they were exposed to, so we’re very proud to have it, hope we never have to use it, but if we do, we know it’s there, and it gives them a little comfort in their families,” said Chief Pelfrey.
According to Paulding’s Human Resources Director Brian Acker, who also addressed Paulding commissioners during their work session last week, after working with ACCG-IRMA to establish coverage parameters, the cost is down to about $200 a year per person to firefighters who qualify, and [per the legislation] takes effect on January 1 and with the board’s approval of the resolution, would bind coverage by the January 1st start date.
District 67 State Rep. Micah Gravley, R-Douglasville, was named Legislator of the Year for the second consecutive year by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs and the Georgia State Firefighter Association. Gravley, whose district includes portions of Douglas and Paulding counties, was selected this year for his work in passing HB 146, which mandates certain cancer insurance provisions for firefighters, which are paid by the county.
Gravley sponsored the legislation to create an insurance benefit for firefighters diagnosed with certain types of cancer most common among firefighters. The benefit is determined by the cancer stage, as well as, the level of severity. The diagnosed firefighter would be eligible for a cash payout towards medical expenses, as well as, salary protection for 36 months, thus allowing them to focus on treatment and time with family. The legislation went through some fine-tuning since its first version presented in the 2016 session and vetoed by Gov. Deal. “We were able to address concerns that the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia had about the bill,” Gravley said.
Georgia has around 34,000 firefighters, and about 70 percent of those are volunteers.
“Every firefighter in the state will have access, both volunteer, and career firefighters,” he said.

COURT ADMINISTRATOR CANDIDATE APPROVED
Paulding commissioners also last week voted to approve Deputy Court Administrator Alyson Briant to take over as court administrator. The vacancy was created when Paulding Court Administrator Frank Baker was approved last month and brought on board to be County Administrator.
Baker, familiar to Paulding’s board, has worked with Paulding’s felony drug court since its inception about two years ago. Baker in his comments to commissioners during their work session urged the board to go ahead with Bryant who, he pointed out, has worked with Paulding courts for several years.