WAGNER BILLS STRENGTHEN FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND BENEFITS

      HARRISBURG (March 22, 2004) – State Sen. Jack Wagner (D-Allegheny) is introducing a three-bill package of legislation that would improve firefighter training and strengthen occupational and death benefits for firefighters and their families.

      “There’s no more important public service citizens can provide than protecting their communities from harm,” said Wagner, himself a former paramedic.  “As a society, we should provide these individuals the respect and protection that they deserve.  My bills recognize the risks they face on a daily basis.”

      Wagner’s first bill would create the Municipal Firefighter Education and Training Program under the Office of State Fire Commissioner. 

      Wagner explained that the program would require all newly hired municipal firefighters to complete a basic course of instruction within one year of their hiring date.  Upon a firefighter’s completion of the course, the Office of State Fire Commissioner would reimburse the employer municipality for 100% of the firefighter’s tuition, living expenses, and travel expenses, and 80% of the firefighter’s salary.

      The program is modeled after Act 120 of 1974, which established a similar program to train police officers. 

      Wagner’s second bill would define “occupational disease” in the Workers’ Compensation Act to include diseases caused by chemical exposure arising out of firefighting.  Over 20 states currently recognize this danger.

      “Scientific studies have documented that firefighters are exposed to thousands of different chemical agents during the course of their duties,” said Wagner.  “Some of these chemicals are known to cause liver cancer, lung and lung lining cancer, skin cancer, and leukemia.”

     Wagner’s third bill would amend the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to include heart attacks or strokes occurring within 24 hours of a physical training exercise or emergency response as eligible “line of duty deaths” for the purpose of the state death benefit program.

  “This change would make state law consistent with federal law,” said Wagner.