Bill to expand firefighters workers’ comp goes to senate finance

Senate Bill 117 starts coverage for professional and volunteer firefighters with at least seven years on the job and terminates it 60 months after employment ends. It is now before the Senate Finance Committee.

Firefighters would be required to complete a health screening to demonstrate they are free of the related diseases at the start of their time with a fire department. An amendment adopted by the committee specified that an employer is not required to pay the cost of the baseline exam.

During hearings last year the Alaska Public Entity Insurance Pool, a municipal and school district self-insurance consortium, opposed the measure. No testimony was taken at Tuesday's hearing.

Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, cast the lone vote against moving the bill and said he opposed expansion of workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters beyond current levels. Bunde said he is concerned it would put undue stress on the workers’ compensation system. Research from bill sponsor Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, indicated negligible impact followed adoption of similar laws in 41 other states.