TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/CS/SB 426: Firefighters, granting certain benefits to a firefighter upon receiving a diagnosis of cancer. Nationwide, 70 percent of firefighter line-of-duty deaths in 2016 were cancer-related. With the signing of this legislation, Florida joins 45 other states that provide a cancer benefit to these first responders. The Governor was joined at the bill signing ceremony by Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis.

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “This marks an enormous victory for these brave men and women in their fight against cancer. Today, Florida tells every firefighter battling cancer, every firefighter afraid of getting cancer, and every child who dreams of being a firefighter that we are in their corner. I’m proud that we can now add Florida to the list of states that provides this essential benefit for firefighters. Thank you to the Florida Legislature for their unanimous passage of this bill and to Governor DeSantis for his support in signing this important legislation into law."