Benefits for firefighters hurt in training advance in House

The dangers for firefighters don’t begin on their first call for service. Many of them are hurt in training.

And Republican Rep. Judson Sapp says they deserve benefits as well.

His bill (HB 749), which the Budget Committee is moving forward, would ensure firefighters who are totally and permanently disabled would still have insurance coverage for themselves and their families.

Ahead of the unanimous vote to advance it, Sapp said the bill “fixed a glaring hole” in Florida Statutes.

The bill has one House stop ahead in the State Affairs Committee before advancing to the floor.

A similar bill is also moving in the Senate.

SB 1202, sponsored by Stan McClain, is moving ahead as a committee substitute from the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Differences between the bills are minor.

The House version is called the “Anthony Gillan Act.” It’s named after the Marion County firefighter severely injured during a training exercise who subsequently lost his job.

The Senate version stipulates that the Legislature “determines and declares that this act fulfills an important state interest.”

Though an “important state interest” may be fulfilled, the House bill analysis warns that it could create local budget impacts.

“The bill may result in a negative fiscal impact on the state and local governments. The fiscal impact is indeterminate at this time, as it depends on the number of full-time firefighters who become totally and permanently disabled due to a catastrophic injury sustained during an official training exercise. “