SB 131-WORKERS' COMP DISABILITY FOR FIREFIGHTERS  4:41:37 PM CHAIR HUGHES reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 131, "An Act relating to the presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain diseases for firefighters." She noted who was available to answer questions and asked the sponsor if he had any comments. 4:42:14 PM SENATOR ROGER HOLLAND, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 131, stated that being a firefighter is an inherently dangerous career. He reported that between 2002 and 2019, 66 percent of the line-of-duty deaths were attributed to some form of cancer. SB 131 seeks to add breast cancer to the statutory list of presumptive causes of disease for firefighters. The disease is not gender specific; male firefighters are 7.5 times more likely to die of breast cancer than a male who does not work as a firefighter. He acknowledged that this would not resolve all the issues with the presumptive coverage laws for firefighters, but said it is a good start. 4:43:46 PM CHAIR HUGHES asked if he had had read the letter of opposition from the Alaska Municipal League Insurance Joint Insurance Association. 4:44:15 PM SENATOR HOLLAND answered no. CHAIR HUGHES summarized that APEI said the bill could increase the cost to municipalities and that regular health insurance provides coverage. She offered her understanding that the bill was not expected to result in increased costs and suggested Ms. Wing-Heier clarify the record. 4:44:39 PM SENATOR HOLLAND explained that workers' compensation insurance covers the nine presumptive causes of disease for firefighters as well as other work-related hazards. He relayed his understanding that if there were an increase, it would be minimal. 4:45:19 PM CHAIR HUGHES asked him to speak to the point in the letter that the bill removes the burden of proof. SENATOR HOLLAND replied Chief Benningfield spoke to the fact that the burden of proof is a high bar. Firefighters are required to have an initial physical examination and annual examinations for seven years thereafter all of which must show no sign of breast cancer. SB 131 does not address any of that; it simply adds breast cancer to the list of nine presumptive causes he said. 4:46:33 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the sponsor for the bill and said she found it troubling that Kevin Smith stated the following: We urge you not to impede this progress with another generous benefit to firefighters for a largely hereditary disease. CHAIR HUGHES asked MS. Wing-Heier to comment on the statement that SB 131 will increase costs for municipalities. She said that was not her understanding, based on testimony during the previous hearing. 4:47:42 PM LORI WING-HEIR, Director, Division of Insurance, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, confirmed that adding breast cancer to the presumptive list was not expected to increase costs to municipalities. She acknowledged that it was a possibility if the incidence of breast cancer increased exponentially but the data has not shown there would be an increase. Further, when different types of cancer were added previously, the division did not see that many cases. She referenced an email from Director Collins that said there has only been one case of breast cancer in the last several years. She noted that rates overall have come down the last four years. CHAIR HUGHES asked Mr. Collins if he expects SB 131 to increase costs for municipalities. 4:48:59 PM CHARLES COLLINS, Director, Division of Workers' Compensation, Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), Juneau, Alaska, agreed with Director Wing-Heier and highlighted that a research brief from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) found no effect on rates when breast cancer was included as a presumption. He noted that since 2016, the division has accepted five instances of cancer as workers' compensation injuries. He offered his belief that SB 131 was the right thing to do at the right time. 4:51:11 PM SENATOR HOLLAND stated a firefighter who meets the requirements should have coverage. CHAIR HUGHES suggested he communicate with the Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association to relay Ms. Wing-Heier and Mr. Collin's testimony that the bill is not expected to increase costs to municipalities. Their letter assumes there will be an increase. 4:52:05 PM CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on SB 131; finding none, she closed public testimony. She advised written testimony could be sent to scra@akleg.gov. CHAIR HUGHES asked the will of the committee. 4:52:41 PM SENATOR MYERS moved to report SB 131, work order 32-LS0598\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:52:55 PM CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and SB 131 was reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.