h_phc_2017a_2017-04-04t13:31:33z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/04/2017

Location: HCR 0107

01:38 PM -- SB 17-214



Representative Exum and Representative Pettersen presented House Bill 17-214 to the committee. The bill allows municipalities, special districts, fire authorities, and county improvement districts that employ one or more firefighters to participate in a voluntary firefighter cancer benefits program. Participation constitutes payment of contributions into a multiple employer health trust designed to pay awards to covered individuals diagnosed with cancer or their surviving family members. The trust must establish award levels between $100 and $225,000 based on the category and stage of the cancer. The trust must also make payments to the covered individual for the actual cost, up to $25,000, for rehabilitative or vocational training employment services and educational training and for cosmetic disfigurement costs, if necessary, up to $10,000. Any benefits paid by the trust must be offset by any payments made under the Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado. Firefighters, including those who work on a part-time or volunteer basis, must meet certain criteria to be eligible for benefits under the trust.



01:47 PM -- Mike Rogers, Colorado Professional Fire Fighters, testified in support of the bill.



01:51 PM -- Chief Don Lombardi, Colorado State Fire Chiefs, testified in support of the bill.



01:54 PM -- Ann Terry, Special District Association, testified in support of the bill.



01:55 PM



Mr. Rogers, Chief Lombardi, and Ms. Terry responded to questions from the committee.



02:08 PM



Representative Pettersen and Representative Exum gave concluding remarks.