First in Michigan, Firefighter Cancer fund

It's a year later than they'd expected, but firefighters in Michigan are hopeful that the legislature may put money into a fund that covers those exposed to cancer-causing toxins on the job.
Gov. Rick Snyder in 2015 signed legislation that created the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund to cover firefighters with specific types of cancer (respiratory tract, bladder, skin, brain, kidney, blood, thyroid, testicular, prostate or lymphatic) presumed to have been contracted from on-the-job exposure to carcinogens. The Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday voted on a bill to put $1 million of one-time money into the fund for the current fiscal year, which runs through Sept. 31, 2016. Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, offered the amendment that inserted the $1 million.
"It will ensure that firefighters that put themselves in harm's way each and every single day will receive the benefits that they deserve," Knollenberg said.
Medical studies in recent years have closely linked firefighter job exposure to certain types of cancer. But cancer from long-term exposure typically is not covered by Worker's Compensation. That's why the legislature created this separate fund, but without money it couldn't be activated.