Missouri bill would establish firefighter cancer trust
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A Missouri bill proposes the establishment of a voluntary firefighter cancer benefits trust.
H.B. 1120, introduced Tuesday, would create a trust to make payments to firefighters in the state who have cancer.
Firefighters covered by the trust would include those who spent at least five years of hazardous duty, were exposed to an agent classified as a known carcinogen, worked in a hazardous duty position in the past 15 years and are under the age of 70 at the time of diagnosis.
Firefighters employed by contributing entities would receive payouts based on the category and stage of their cancer, with payments of up to $25,000 for rehabilitative or vocational training related to the diagnosis and up to $10,000 if the firefighter suffers from cosmetic disfigurement related to the cancer.
The bill states the trust would pay out a lump sum of $25,000 for a terminal cancer diagnosis, but that firefighters who use tobacco within five years of their diagnosis would have their award reduced by 25%.
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