Assigned to BI                                                                                    FOR CAUCUS & FLOOR ACTION

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2393

 

workers’ compensation; occupational disease; firefighters

 

Purpose

 

Establishes the presumption of an occupational disease for firefighters whose disease, infirmity or impairment is caused by specific cancers that result in disability or death.

                                     

Background

 

            Firefighters experience increasing exposure to various toxic materials during the course of performing their employment duties. The construction industry utilizes various building materials; their compositions and chemical make-ups change as the industry continues to evolve. Toxins burn at different temperatures and emit various fumes at each level of the heat process. The likelihood of chemical/toxin exposure in this particular profession exceeds the norm.      H.B. 2393 provides a presumptive employment-related disease when certain cancers result in disability or death

 

There is no fiscal impact associated with H.B. 2393 according to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Establishes that a firefighter's disease or health impairment caused by certain cancers that result in disability or death is presumed to be occupational in nature and is further deemed to arise out of the employment.

 

2.      Removes this presumption from firefighters that smoke and contract respiratory tract cancer or a firefighter that chewed tobacco and contracts oropharynx cancer.

 

3.      Prescribes specific cancers are as follows: brain cancer; bladder cancer; rectal or colon cancer; leukemia or aden carcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory tract.

 

4.      Requires firefighters to pass a physical examination prior to employment with no indication of cancer or was assigned hazardous duty for a minimum of five years.

 

5.      Defines firefighter as one who was full-time and regularly assigned to hazardous duty.

 

6.      Makes the provisions applicable to former firefighters who are 65 years old or younger.

 

7.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

 

            Strikes cancers of the mouth if firefighters have chewed tobacco in order to conform with the list of concerns outlined in, and affected by, the bill

 

 

House Action                                                                 Senate Action

 

CED                1/25/01            DPA    10-0-0-0             BI             3/29/01        DPA       5-0-1

3rd Read           3/14/01            DPA    52-0-8-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 30, 2001