Bill expanding cancer coverage for firefighters, EMS goes to governor's desk
Legislation is headed to the governor's desk that would expand disability and death benefits for first responders from the current 14 cancers covered to all types of cancer. (Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Fire Department)
Iowa House lawmakers unanimously passed a bill expanding cancer coverage for emergency responders in Iowa, sending it to the governor.
House File 969 expands disability and death benefits for firefighters, emergency medical services responders and law enforcement officers from the current 14 cancers covered to all types of cancer. The bill also proposes changes to contribution rates for the Peace Officers' Retirement, Accident, and Disability System (PORS), the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (411 System) and the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) — the retirement programs for these public workers — in part to finance this expanded coverage.
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, celebrated the bill making it to Gov. Kim Reynolds after failing to advance in the Senate in previous sessions.
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'Finally, after six subcommittees, six committee votes, and what will be our fourth and hopefully final floor vote, we are finally going to get this bill for cancer coverage, screening for first responders down to the governor's desk,' Kaufmann said.
The bill passed the Senate earlier in April with an amendment making minor changes to contribution rates, and only one 'no' vote, from Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig. The final House vote was greeted with a standing ovation from lawmakers and supporters of the legislation in the gallery.
Kaufmann thanked Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, for leading the bill in the other chamber.
'I think it's important also to know that we, as a House body, can pass this bill as many times as we want, but without a senator being willing to take up and run with it, it wasn't going to happen,' he said. 'And so I would be remiss if I did not thank Senator Scott Webster, who took this bill on, didn't take no for an answer and got this back to us.'
He also thanked Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, for his work to pass the bipartisan measure. Turek spoke in support of the measure, saying this expansion of coverage will help the state better care for its workers responding to emergencies throughout the state.
'This is what we are here to do, is to take care of our citizens, protect our citizens, and particularly our heroes,' Turek said.
Some supporters, including firefighters, law enforcement officers and their families, sat in the gallery as the House passed the measure. Turek said he was 'grateful that this is the last time you have to come back.' Kaufmann also thanked emergency responders for their efforts to move the bill forward.
'For the folks that are up in the gallery — each and every day, at any given moment, you lay down your lives or are willing to, for all of us,' Kaufmann said. 'This is the least we can do, is finally get this across the finish line.'
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