Urge Committee Members to OPPOSE Proposed Committee Bill (PCB) SAC (State Affairs) 19-04 – Mandated Benefits for Firefighters with Cancer
On Thursday, April 18, at 8:00 a.m., the House State Affairs Committee will consider PCB SAC 19-04 relating to mandated benefits for firefighters with cancer.
PCB SAC 19-04 entitles firefighters who receive a diagnosis of 21 specified cancers to a package of mandated benefits.

These benefits include:
  • coverage under a group health or self-insurance policy,
  • a lump sum cash payout of $25,000,
  • reimbursement for out-of-pocket deductibles; co-payments; or coinsurance cost, and
  • pension disability and death benefits.

The mandated benefits must be made available for 10 years after the firefighter terminates employment.

Reasons for the League’s opposition:

  • UNKNOWN FISCAL IMPACT: No actuarial study or analysis has been done on the fiscal impact to cities' health insurance cost due to the mandated benefits of this bill. The health insurance cost will be the most significant fiscal impact to cities.
  • The only study done refers only to the fiscal impact on the Florida Retirement System for pension purposes. Most municipal firefighters are not in the FRS, but are instead in local retirement plans. The increased retirement benefits represent a very small portion of the fiscal impact of the bill.

  • IMPLEMENTATION: The bill has practical challenges with its implementation.
  • The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2019. City fiscal years starts in October 1 so municipal insurance plan benefits and budgets are already set.
  • The bill requires that the cost of providing all of these benefits be borne solely by the employer. How does that work if there is a required employee health care or pension contribution?
Talking Points
The Florida League of Cities supports and appreciates firefighters; they are employees of our cities and members of our communities. However, the fiscal impact of this legislation on local governments has not been evaluated and many provisions are not practical. 

The Legislature should not pass an unfunded mandate onto local governments without, at a minimum, knowing the mandate’s anticipated costs.
Contact Amber Hughes with any questions or call (850) 222-9684.
Contact committee members ASAP and urge them to OPPOSE PCB SAC 19-04!
Blaise Ingoglia, Chair (R-35)
(850) 717-5035
@BlaiseIngoglia
 
Scott Plakon, Vice Chair (R-29)
(850) 717-5029
@scottplakon
 
Bobby DuBose (D-94), Ranking Member
(850) 717-5094
@RepBobbyDuBose
 
Charles Clemons (R-21)
(850) 717-5021
@ChuckClemons21
 
Nick DiCeglie (R-66)
(850) 717-5066
@NickDiCeglie
 
Brad Drake (R-5)
(850) 717-5005
@braddrake5
 
Margaret Good (D-72)
(850) 717-5072
@GoodforFlorida
 
Erin Grall (R-54)
(850) 717-5054
@ErinGrall
 
Dianne Hart (D-61)
(850) 717-5061
@DianneHartFL
 
Adam Roger Hattersley (D-59)
(850) 717-5059
@Adam4Florida
 
Chris Latvala (R-67)
(850) 717-5067
@ChrisLatvala
 
Stan McClain (R-23)
(850) 717-5023
@RepMcClain
Lawrence McClure (R-58)
(850) 717-5058
@RepMcClure
 
Wengay Newton (D-70)
(850) 717-5070
@NEWTFL
 
Bobby Payne (R-19)
(850) 717-5019
@bobbypaynefl
 
Cary Pigman (R-55)
(850) 717-5055
@CaryPigman
 
Tina Scott Polsky (D-81)
(850) 717-5081
@TinaPolsky
 
Holly Merrill Raschein (R-120)
(850) 717-5120
@HollyRaschein
 
Anthony Rodriguez (R-118)
(850) 717-5118
@RepRodriguez118
 
Rick Roth (R-85)
(850) 717-5085
@roth4florida
 
Emily Slosberg (D-91)
(850) 717-5091
@EmilySlosberg
 
Jay Trumbull (R-6)
(850) 717-5006
@jaytrumbull
 
Clovis Watson (D-20)
(850) 717-5020
 
Ardian Zika (R-37)
(850) 717-5037
@ArdianZika
Click here to download a spreadsheet with committee contact information. You can also use the League’s Contact Your Legislator advocacy tool to email your legislators.
Watch Live on The Florida Channel
To watch this committee live, go to https://thefloridachannel.org , click on Live Streams and look for the House State Affairs Committee hearing
on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. 
Thank You for Your Advocacy Efforts!