NY cancer benefits bill for volunteer firefighters signed

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Sunday that will allow volunteer firefighters to receive enhanced cancer disability benefits.

Senate Bill 1411 allows a volunteer firefighter who has five or more years of service to receive a lump sum benefit of $25,000 when diagnosed with one or more malignant tumors. The bill also allows $6,250 for carcinomas, malignant tumors or malignant melanomas, according to the latest text of the bill.

“New York is forever grateful to the 96,000 volunteer firefighters who selflessly put their own personal safety at risk in order to keep their neighbors and communities safe,” Gov. Cuomo said in a statement Sunday. “With this measure, we will provide these courageous New Yorkers the protections they need and the peace of mind they deserve.”