Bill Text: HI SCR8 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: State Fire Council Package; Firefighters; Cancer; Task Force; Establishment

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-04-15 - The committee(s) on LAB recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [SCR8 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SCR8-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	8
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE 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) One hundred and two percent higher for testicular cancer;

(2) Fifty-three percent higher for multiple myeloma;

(3) Fifty-one percent higher for non-Hodgkin lymphoma;

(4) Thirty-nine percent higher for skin cancer;

(5) Thirty-two percent higher for brain cancer and malignant melanoma;

(6) Twenty-nine percent higher for rectal cancer;

(7) Twenty-eight percent higher for prostate cancer;

(8) Twenty-four percent higher for buccal cavity and pharynx cancer;

(9) Twenty-two percent higher for stomach cancer;

(10) Twenty-one percent higher for colon cancer; and

(11) Fourteen percent higher for leukemia; and

WHEREAS, a firefighter's cancer diagnosis can also have an enormous impact on a spouse, children, and other family members, including a heavy emotional toll, financial costs, and a decreased quality of life; and

WHEREAS, thirty-four states and nine Canadian provinces 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 Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives 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 be comprised of:

(1) The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, or the Chairperson's designee;

(2) The Chairperson of the House of Representatives 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 each county's department that oversees human resources, 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 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 2017; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report 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 certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health; Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Health; Director of Health; Director of Human Resources Development; Administrator of the Disability Compensation Division of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center; director of each county's department that oversees human resources; Fire Chief of each county; President of the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association; and State Fire Council.