ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Despite years of inaction on a bill guaranteeing benefits to firefighters diagnosed with certain types of cancer, the Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva says it will move forward.
The problem has been, he argues, how to pay for it.
"The debate this year, as in past years, was never against firefighters nor was it political. It was the legislature that supported the funding to establish the proper need to begin with," the Miami-area Republican said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the debate became about whether we support our firefighter - of course we do. And it became about whether it was political - of course it wasn't.
"Still, the environment has become too toxic to debate the true original disagreement. As such, we will move legislation forward, more so as the differences are not so great as to invite the assumptions now being spread."
Up until this week, House Bill 857 had not moved in the House at all, although it has more than 80 representatives co-sponsoring it. It would cover firefighters who develop 21 different types of cancer.
The House bill's sponsor, Republican Chris Latvala of Clearwater, responded:
“This issue has been around long before Jose Oliva was Speaker. For as long as I have known and served with him he has been a champion of our first responders. I thank him for the leadership he has shown on this issue.”
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis made the following statement:
“Cancer rates among firefighters are not up for debate. Seventy percent of firefighter line-of-duty deaths are cancer related. It is past time that Florida joined the 45 other states that have some sort of cancer benefit so that our heroes who are battling this horrible disease can have peace of mind knowing they will not have to shoulder the financial burden alone," he said.
“Thank you, Speaker Oliva, for your leadership as we work together to ensure this measure moves through the legislative process this year so that our heroes know that Florida has their back. I look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue until a bill is presented to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.”
The House bill will be heard at 8 a.m. Thursday in the State Affairs Committee. The legislative session ends on May 3.
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