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IGR weighs firefighter cancer presumption proposal, defers formal recommendation
Summary
Chair Randy Groves introduced a proposal to expand workers' compensation presumptions for firefighters to cover an uncommon blood cancer; staff reviewed prior legislation and said the issue will likely go to the Management Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) and a July follow-up before the IGR makes a formal recommendation.
Chair Randy Groves raised a proposed expansion of occupational disease presumptions for firefighters at the June 3 Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting and asked the committee whether the city should take a position now or defer until additional council members can weigh in.
Groves (chair of the IGR committee) said three firefighters — a mix of active and retired personnel — have a rare blood cancer that is not included in Oregon’s existing presumptions. He distributed a white paper and draft legislative language and said he would prefer the committee discuss the matter with full IGR membership present, including Councilor Jennifer (name in transcript), before making a formal recommendation to full council.
Ethan, the staff presenter, summarized recent legislative history: Representative Graver (earlier sponsor) introduced related language in 2021 that did not pass; a similar proposal advanced in 2022 as House Bill 4113 and was amended to add bladder and female reproductive cancers as presumptive occupational diseases for career firefighters with five or more years of service. Ethan said the legislature has relied on the Management Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studies to inform whether additional presumptions should be adopted and that future proposals will likely be routed to MLAC for review and recommendation.
Ethan emphasized the city currently has "no position" on the new blood‑cancer presumption and that staff will provide information to IGR and the full council before any recommendation. "We don't have a recommendation; this is information to inform elected officials," Ethan said. Groves said he intends to bring the topic back in July so additional council members can weigh in and the IGR can decide whether to signal support, neutrality, or opposition.
Committee members expressed support for a structured process to consider member proposals and cautioned that taking substantial staff and council time to pursue a single legislative change could compete with other session priorities. Staff noted Senator Manning is expected to hold a hearing on the subject in July, and that MLAC consultation and NIOSH findings will likely be part of the evidence considered.
Next steps: staff will circulate the white paper and draft language, present additional context in July when more members are present, and monitor MLAC and upcoming hearings; the committee did not adopt a formal position at the June 3 meeting.
