ATLANTA — The Georgia House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 216, the Firefighter Cancer Bill, which would include cancer as a condition covered by a firefighter’s workman’s compensation in Georgia. HB 216, sponsored by State Representative Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville), passed the House by a vote of 148-19 and will now be considered by the Senate.
“The passage of HB 216 by the House was a tremendous victory for Georgia’s firefighters, and I am grateful to my colleagues who supported the bill and realized the increased risk firefighters have of developing cancer,” said Rep. Gravley. “Under current Georgia law, firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer are not covered under worker’s compensation. Additionally, they are not even allowed to present medical evidence to demonstrate their cancer was work related, but HB 216 will allow them the opportunity to at least plead their case. If our firefighters have been diagnosed with cancer due to their service and efforts to keep us safe, then they deserve a fighting chance and the opportunity to prove their case with medical evidence.”
HB 216 would add cancer to the list of occupational diseases covered by a firefighter’s worker’s compensation benefit, but only if it is proven that the cancer was caused by the individual’s employment. Individuals would present their evidence before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, who review and decide all cases dealing with worker’s compensation in Georgia.
For more information on HB 216, please click here.