The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee referred to the Senate Finance Committee, two pieces of legislation impacting worker’s compensation for firefighters and local police.
SB 642 (McPike) adds colon cancer to the existing list of conditions currently presumed to be an occupational disease when developed by certain public safety employees and therefore covered by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act. Furthermore, SB 642 eliminates a requirement that the covered employee who develops cancer have had contact with a toxic substance in the line of duty. SB 642 was reported and referred by the Committee on January 29 by a 15-0 vote.
SB 352 (Peake) adds lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other cancers to the existing list of conditions currently presumed to be an occupational disease when developed by certain public safety employees and therefore covered by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act. Additionally, this bill reduces to five years the minimum amount of continuous service such public safety employees are required to have completed in order to qualify for a presumption that their condition is an occupational disease suffered in the line of duty. SB 352 was reported and referred by the Committee on January 29 by a 15-0 vote.
VACo Executive Director, Dean Lynch, addressed the Committee regarding both pieces of legislation, expressing VACo’s concerns regarding the fiscal impact of these bills upon Virginia counties.
VACo Contact: Dean Lynch, CAE