House panel hears bill to fund advanced cancer screening for firefighters

House Bill 757 would expand the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program and authorize up to $3 million to be allocated through the annual budget to provide advanced, low- or no-cost screenings for Maryland firefighters.

Delegate Nic Kipke (sponsor) told the committee the bill seeks to “allow up to $3,000,000 in the annual budget” and proposed using a portion of the state’s oil transfer fee or raising that fee slightly and directing the increment to the screening fund. He said firefighters have higher cancer incidence and mortality tied to routine occupational exposures, including oil- and petroleum-related incidents.

Chief Robert Phillips, legislative chair of the Maryland State Firefighters Association, said cancer “has taken its toll on both the volunteer and…