After a nearly decade-long battle, Ohio lawmakers approved Wednesday a bill to help firefighters battling cancer.
The legislation, currently known as Senate Bill 27, will be renamed after Mike Palumbo, a Beachwood firefighter battling brain cancer. On Your Side Investigators introduced viewers to Palumbo in February, when we revealed Ohio is one of just 16 states that fails to recognize the link between fighting fires and cancer.
Touching moment in OH House. Standing ovation for Mike Palumbo, Beachwood firefighter battling brain cancer pic.twitter.com/CKwn6m9WIG
— Sarah Buduson (@SarahBuduson) December 7, 2016
The bill will allow firefighters diagnosed with cancer to receive additional worker’s compensation benefits, including money for medical costs, workers’ compensation, and survivor benefits for their dependents.
However, the law will only apply to firefighters diagnosed with certain types of cancer, such as lung, prostate, brain, and leukemia. Scientific studies show fighting fires increases the risk of developing those cancers.
RELATED: INVESTIGATION: How Ohio fails to help firefighters facing cancer
Firefighters who smoke, are over the age of 75, or who served less than three years, would also be exempt from additional benefits under the law.
Ohio firefighters have fought for this legislation for years.
“I feel almost embarrassed as the state of Ohio,” said Ohio Senator Tom Patton (R-District 24.) “There’s no other disabling injury that someone in Ohio will receive while working that we don’t take care of,” he said.
Since 2008, Patton has introduced presumptive cancer legislation four times, but the proposal continually remained mired in bureaucracy.
HAPPENING TODAY: #SB27 expected to pass OH House of Rep.; gives workers' comp benefits to firefighters battling certain types of cancer
— Sarah Buduson (@SarahBuduson) December 7, 2016
After our On, Your Side Investigation aired this February, that finally changed.
On Your Investigators were asked to present the story before the Ohio Senate Insurance Committee this spring, where the bill had languished for a year.
After watching our investigation, the committee approved SB 27. The bill was then approved by Ohio Senate 32-1.
Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign the bill into law.
