Bill Text: HI HCR7 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: State Fire Council Package; Firefighters; Cancer; Task Force; Establishment
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-04-14 - Referred to HTH/PSM, JDL/WAM. [HCR7 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-HCR7-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
7 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF A CANCER PRESUMPTIVE STATUTE RELATING TO FIREFIGHTERS.
WHEREAS, highly concentrated toxicants in the form of plastics and other synthetics often burn in residential or vehicle fires; and
WHEREAS, although fire departments have improved procedures for cleaning firefighters' protective clothing and breathing apparatus, firefighters may still become exposed to carcinogens and toxicants while performing their duties; and
WHEREAS, the exposure to toxicants during a firefighter's career may not result in symptoms or a cancer diagnosis until years after retirement; and
WHEREAS, University of Cincinnati environmental health researchers have determined that firefighters are significantly more likely to develop various types of cancer than workers in other fields; and
WHEREAS, a study released by the University of Cincinnati in 2006 found that, when compared to the general population, the risk for firefighters is:
(1) 102 percent higher for testicular cancer;
(2) 53 percent higher for multiple myeloma;
(3) 51 percent higher for non-Hodgkin lymphoma;
(4) 39 percent higher for skin cancer;
(5) 32 percent higher for brain cancer and malignant melanoma;
(6) 29 percent higher for rectal cancer;
(7) 28 percent higher for prostate cancer;
(8) 24 percent higher for buccal cavity and pharynx cancer;
(9) 22 percent higher for stomach cancer;
(10) 21 percent higher for colon cancer; and
(11) 14 percent higher for leukemia; and
WHEREAS, firefighters also face a greater risk of contracting infectious diseases and illnesses associated with exposure to patient care and biochemical substances due to bioterrorism; and
WHEREAS, a firefighter's cancer diagnosis can also have an enormous impact on the firefighter's spouse, children, and other family members, including a heavy emotional toll, financial costs, and a decreased quality of life; and
WHEREAS, some states have enacted cancer presumptive statutes, which create a presumption that certain types of cancer diagnosed among firefighters result from their employment as firefighters; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the Senate concurring, that various stakeholders are requested to convene a Firefighter Cancer Presumptive Task Force (Task Force) to develop recommendations for the enactment of a cancer presumptive statute relating to firefighters; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall be comprised of:
(1) The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, or the Chairperson's designee;
(2) The Chairperson of the House Committee on Health, or the Chairperson's designee;
(3) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;
(4) The Director of Human Resources Development, or the Director's designee;
(5) The Administrator of the Disability Compensation Division of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, or the Administrator's representative;
(6) The Director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, or the Director's designee;
(7) The Director of the department that oversees human resources for each county, or the Director's designee;
(8) A representative from the health insurance industry;
(9) A private attorney familiar with workers' compensation claims;
(10) The President of the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, or the President's designee; and
(11) A representative from the State Fire Council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall select a chairperson from among its members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing its recommendations for enactment of a cancer presumptive statute, the Task Force include:
(1) An analysis of the number of cancer patients among the State's general population as compared to the number who are firefighters;
(2) Recommendations, if any, for revisions to workers' compensation statutes to expedite the award of workers' compensation benefits for firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer;
(3) An estimate of the cost to the State and counties of workers' compensation benefits for firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer;
(4) Current county fire department safety procedures and protocols related to preventing and reporting firefighter exposure to toxicants; and
(5) Recommendations, if any, for changes to a fire department's administrative rules to improve workers' compensation benefits for firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to provide a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Chairperson of the House Committee on Health, Director of Health, Administrator of the Disability Compensation Division of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Director of Human Resources Development, Director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Director of the department that oversees human resources for each county, Fire Chief of each county, President of the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, and Chair of the State Fire Council.
State Fire Council Package; Firefighters; Cancer; Task Force; Establishment
