SCR 13: Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-21
Current Status:
Passed
(2025-02-21: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 11, Statutes of 2025.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
This measure would proclaim the month of January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
This measure would proclaim the month of January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
This measure would proclaim the month of January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States. Californias firefighters are exposed to many known and suspected human carcinogens in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Recent studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirm an increased risk of cancer in firefighters, including a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general United States population, a twofold increase in both the incidence and mortality of firefighters diagnosed with mesothelioma, and a tenfold increase in the incidents of bladder cancer among women in the fire service; and
WHEREAS, A NIOSH case-control study of California firefighters found significant increases of melanoma, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and prostate, brain, and kidney cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, when the death of two Los Angeles County firefighters from the same extremely rare form of cancer brought home the connection between firefighting and cancer, the state passed AB 3011, the nations first firefighter cancer presumption law, to secure workers compensation protection for firefighter cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, California Professional Firefighters Personal Exposure Reporting was established to offer an easy, secure, and comprehensive method for firefighters to record exposures to cancer-causing chemicals and biological toxins and has been a secure lockbox for more than 100,000 exposure reports. These reports provide critical documentation needed in workers compensation cases involving job-related illnesses and in medical diagnoses for those illnesses; and
WHEREAS, In June 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure from being a firefighter as a Group 1 known human carcinogen; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Office of the State Fire Marshall jointly administer the FIRESCOPE Program, which represents the unified voice of the fire service in California. In August 2022, FIRESCOPE established the Cancer Prevention Subcommittee within the program; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 700, which established the California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program administered by the University of California and FIRESCOPE to award grants for community-based participatory research examining biomarkers of carcinogenic exposure and effect in order to identify the biological mechanisms that cause cancer in firefighters and to reduce the incidence of cancer among California firefighters; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, the University of California announced eight awards, totaling nearly $6,000,000, and research is currently underway; and
WHEREAS, California must continue to bolster efforts to reduce cancer risk, strengthen early cancer detection, and ensure world-class cancer treatment is available to firefighters; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaim January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States. Californias firefighters are exposed to many known and suspected human carcinogens in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Recent studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirm an increased risk of cancer in firefighters, including a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general United States population, a twofold increase in both the incidence and mortality of firefighters diagnosed with mesothelioma, and a tenfold increase in the incidents of bladder cancer among women in the fire service; and
WHEREAS, A NIOSH case-control study of California firefighters found significant increases of melanoma, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and prostate, brain, and kidney cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, when the death of two Los Angeles County firefighters from the same extremely rare form of cancer brought home the connection between firefighting and cancer, the state passed AB 3011, the nations first firefighter cancer presumption law, to secure workers compensation protection for firefighter cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, California Professional Firefighters Personal Exposure Reporting was established to offer an easy, secure, and comprehensive method for firefighters to record exposures to cancer-causing chemicals and biological toxins and has been a secure lockbox for more than 100,000 exposure reports. These reports provide critical documentation needed in workers compensation cases involving job-related illnesses and in medical diagnoses for those illnesses; and
WHEREAS, In June 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure from being a firefighter as a Group 1 known human carcinogen; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Office of the State Fire Marshall jointly administer the FIRESCOPE Program, which represents the unified voice of the fire service in California. In August 2022, FIRESCOPE established the Cancer Prevention Subcommittee within the program; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 700, which established the California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program administered by the University of California and FIRESCOPE to award grants for community-based participatory research examining biomarkers of carcinogenic exposure and effect in order to identify the biological mechanisms that cause cancer in firefighters and to reduce the incidence of cancer among California firefighters; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, the University of California announced eight awards, totaling nearly $6,000,000, and research is currently underway; and
WHEREAS, California must continue to bolster efforts to reduce cancer risk, strengthen early cancer detection, and ensure world-class cancer treatment is available to firefighters; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaim January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States. Californias firefighters are exposed to many known and suspected human carcinogens in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Recent studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirm an increased risk of cancer in firefighters, including a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general United States population, a twofold increase in both the incidence and mortality of firefighters diagnosed with mesothelioma, and a tenfold increase in the incidents of bladder cancer among women in the fire service; and
WHEREAS, A NIOSH case-control study of California firefighters found significant increases of melanoma, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and prostate, brain, and kidney cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, when the death of two Los Angeles County firefighters from the same extremely rare form of cancer brought home the connection between firefighting and cancer, the state passed AB 3011, the nations first firefighter cancer presumption law, to secure workers compensation protection for firefighter cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, California Professional Firefighters Personal Exposure Reporting was established to offer an easy, secure, and comprehensive method for firefighters to record exposures to cancer-causing chemicals and biological toxins and has been a secure lockbox for more than 100,000 exposure reports. These reports provide critical documentation needed in workers compensation cases involving job-related illnesses and in medical diagnoses for those illnesses; and
WHEREAS, In June 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure from being a firefighter as a Group 1 known human carcinogen; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Office of the State Fire Marshall jointly administer the FIRESCOPE Program, which represents the unified voice of the fire service in California. In August 2022, FIRESCOPE established the Cancer Prevention Subcommittee within the program; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 700, which established the California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program administered by the University of California and FIRESCOPE to award grants for community-based participatory research examining biomarkers of carcinogenic exposure and effect in order to identify the biological mechanisms that cause cancer in firefighters and to reduce the incidence of cancer among California firefighters; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, the University of California announced eight awards, totaling nearly $6,000,000, and research is currently underway; and
WHEREAS, California must continue to bolster efforts to reduce cancer risk, strengthen early cancer detection, and ensure world-class cancer treatment is available to firefighters; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaim January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Feb 21, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 11, Statutes of 2025. |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Enrolled and filed with the Secretary of State at 2 p.m. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Read. Adopted. (Page 356.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Feb 10, 2025 | From committee: Be adopted. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (February 10). |
| Feb 3, 2025 | Referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Jan 30, 2025 | In Assembly. Held at Desk. |
| Jan 30, 2025 | Read. Adopted. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 129.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Jan 22, 2025 | From committee: Ordered to third reading. |
| Jan 13, 2025 | Introduced. Referred to Com. on RLS. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10, 2025 | Be adopted. To Consent Calendar. | Assembly Standing Committee on Rules |
Passed |
|
| Jan 30, 2025 | Senate 3rd Reading SCR13 Grayson et al. | Senate Floor |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
Date of Hearing: February 10, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON
, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:
Author:() – As Ver:January 13, 2025
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY: Proclaims the month of January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:
- Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States. California’s firefighters are exposed to many known and suspected human carcinogens in the line of duty.
- Recent studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirm an increased risk of cancer in firefighters, including a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general United States population, a twofold increase in both the incidence and mortality of firefighters diagnosed with mesothelioma, and a tenfold increase in the incidents of bladder cancer among women in the fire service.
- A NIOSH case-control study of California firefighters found significant increases of melanoma, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and prostate, brain, and kidney cancer.
- In 1982, when the death of two Los Angeles County firefighters from the same extremely rare form of cancer brought home the connection between firefighting and cancer, the state passed AB 3011, the nation’s first firefighter cancer presumption law, to secure workers’ compensation protection for firefighter cancer.
- In 1985, California Professional Firefighters’ Personal Exposure Reporting was established to offer an easy, secure, and comprehensive method for firefighters to record exposures to cancer-causing chemicals and biological toxins and has been a secure lockbox for more than 100,000 exposure reports.
- The Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Office of the State Fire Marshall jointly administer the FIRESCOPE Program, which represents the unified voice of the fire service in California. In August 2022, FIRESCOPE established the Cancer Prevention Subcommittee within the program.
- In 2023, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 700, which established the California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program administered by the University of California and FIRESCOPE to award grants for community-based participatory research examining biomarkers of carcinogenic exposure and effect in order to identify the biological mechanisms that cause cancer in firefighters and to reduce the incidence of cancer among California firefighters.
- California must continue to bolster efforts to reduce cancer risk, strengthen early cancer detection, and ensure world-class cancer treatment is available to firefighters.
FISCAL EFFECT: This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative Counsel.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SCR 13 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 13
Author: Grayson (D), et al.
Introduced: 1/13/25
Vote: 21
SUBJECT: Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST:
This measure proclaims the month of January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
- Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States. California’s firefighters are exposed to many known and suspected human carcinogens in the line of duty.
- Recent studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirm an increased risk of cancer in firefighters, including a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general United States population, a twofold increase in both the incidence and mortality of firefighters diagnosed with mesothelioma, and a tenfold increase in the incidents of bladder cancer among women in the fire service.
- In June 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure from being a firefighter as a Group 1 known human carcinogen.
- California must continue to bolster efforts to reduce cancer risk, strengthen early cancer detection, and ensure world-class cancer treatment is available to firefighters.
This resolution proclaims January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 1/17/25)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 1/17/25)
None received
Prepared by: Hunter Flynn / SFA / (916) 651-1520
1/22/25 13:43:10
**** END ****
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
