Nebraska committee studies firefighter cancer benefits, hears push for worker-comp presumptions

The Nebraska Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee on Sept. 5 heard invited testimony under LR229 examining the state’s Firefighter Cancer Benefit Act of 2021 and proposals — including LB400 — to change how firefighter cancer claims are treated under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act.

The study hearing brought career and volunteer firefighters, union leaders, medical experts and municipal representatives to the Capitol to describe the health risks firefighters face, to outline screening efforts and to debate whether presumptive coverage through workers’ compensation is necessary and financially feasible.

LR229 was introduced to gather information after earlier debate on LB400. Senator Stan Klaus, who said he was carrying the resolution at the League of Nebraska Municipalities’ request, described the study as an opportunity for additional dialogue after LB400 was pulled during the recent legislative session.

“Firefighters are 9 percent more likely to receive a cancer diagnosis than the general public. They’re 14 percent more likely to die from that same diagnosis,” said Trevor Towey, president of Omaha Professional Firefighters. “Our occupation is a class 1 carcinogenic. The highest classification of a known cancer causing agent is my profession.”

Several testifiers described research showing that modern building materials and combustion products contain carcinogens — benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,…