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Senate refers bill on firefighter Matthew M. Troyto Public Service Committee after suspending rules
Summary
The Senate voted to suspend joint rules and referred a petition seeking accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of firefighter Matthew M. Troy to the Committee on Public Service after floor debate highlighting limits in existing presumptive coverage for firefighter cancer.
The Senate suspended joint rules and referred a petition seeking accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of firefighter Matthew M. Troy to the Committee on Public Service, the chamber announced after debate on the floor.
Senator Nick Collins, of Suffolk, urged colleagues to advance the measure, saying the proposal is intended to close a gap in the state's presumptive coverage for firefighter cancers. "He died too young, at the hands of cancer that we see happening more and more to firefighters and younger and younger," Collins said, arguing the legislation would address a case in which a firefighterdiagnosed after 4 years and 7 months on the joband his family were unable to claim benefits under current language. "He fought like hell, till, till the end," Collins said.
The motion to suspend the relevant joint rule (joint rule 12) and refer the petition carried on the floor; the clerk recorded "the ayes have it." Senator Duran, identified on the floor as the senator from Worcester and Hampshire, moved the suspension. The matter is now to be considered by the Committee on Public Service; no committee hearing date or further floor action was announced on the record.
The petition before the chamber was presented by members as a bill accompanying a petition from Nick Collins and Daniel J. Hunt seeking accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of Matthew M. Troy. Collins framed the request as a fix to a narrow statutory or administrative-language limitation that prevented benefits in this case despite prior legislative reforms creating presumptive coverage for firefighters with cancer.
No vote on substantive entitlement or benefits was taken on the floor; the action was procedurala rules suspension and referral to committee. Committee consideration will determine whether the petition becomes a bill for further debate, amendment or a vote.
The petition's referral follows remarks from Collins urging continued work with colleagues in both chambers, including Representative Daniel J. Hunt, to refine language and advance the proposal in committee.
