Bill Text: HI HB435 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 435 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Firefighters; Collective Bargaining; Health

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [HB435 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB435-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	435
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the risk of being diagnosed with cancer is higher among firefighters than the general population. In a three-year study completed in 2005 by the University of Cincinnati, researchers concluded that firefighters face a higher risk of cancer than the general population. Statistics from this study show that when compared to the general population, the risk for firefighters is:

(1) One hundred two per cent higher for testicular cancer;

(2) Fifty-three per cent higher for multiple myeloma;

(3) Fifty-one per cent higher for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;

(4) Thirty-nine per cent higher for skin cancer;

(5) Thirty-two per cent higher for brain and malignant melanoma;

(6) Twenty-nine per cent higher for rectal cancer;

(7) Twenty-eight per cent higher for prostate cancer;

(8) Twenty-four per cent higher for buccal cavity and pharanx cancer;

(9) Twenty-two per cent higher for stomach cancer;

(10) Twenty-one per cent higher for colon cancer; and

(11) Fourteen per cent higher for leukemia.

Firefighters also face a greater risk of contracting infectious diseases and illnesses associated with exposure to patient care and biochemical substances due to bioterrorism.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Provide firefighters with the opportunity to collectively bargain for expanded employee benefits to mitigate the long-term health effects that may result from work-related exposure to hazardous materials; and

(2) Require the Hawaii state fire council to develop minimum statewide standards and procedures to ensure the health and safety of firefighters and first responders who may be exposed to hazardous materials in the course of their duties.

SECTION 2. Chapter 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§89- Long-term health effects; firefighters. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any collective bargaining agreement for bargaining unit (11), firefighters, may include terms that allow for an expansion of employee benefits to mitigate long-term health effects resulting from work-related exposure to hazardous materials."

SECTION 3. (a) The Hawaii state fire council shall develop minimum statewide standards and procedures to ensure the health and safety of firefighters and first responders who are or may be exposed to hazardous materials or situations in the course of their duties. The county fire departments shall take steps to ensure that fire and first responder personnel are trained regularly with regard to these minimum standards and procedures.

(b) The county fire departments shall conduct an inventory of fire stations to identify and designate deficiencies to ensure that fire stations meet environmental health and safety standards to mitigate the long-term health effects on fire department and first responder personnel.

(c) As part of the minimum standards and procedures, the county fire departments shall require each fire station to employ best practices that limit an employee's exposure to hazardous materials by isolating equipment and material exposed in the field, proper cleaning protocol, and regular testing of the station for contaminants.

(d) The Hawaii state fire council shall prepare a report that outlines the progress of the county fire departments in accordance with this Act and submit the report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

Report Title:

Firefighters; Collective Bargaining; Health

Description:

Allows firefighters to collectively bargain for expanded employee benefits to mitigate long-term health effects from work-related exposure to hazardous materials. Requires Hawaii State Fire Council to develop minimum statewide standards and procedures to ensure health and safety of firefighters and first responders exposed to hazardous materials. (HB435 HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.