Bill > SCR13

This concurrent resolution proclaims January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the significant cancer risks faced by firefighters in the United States. The resolution draws attention to studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) showing that firefighters have a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population, with increased incidences of various types of cancer including mesothelioma, bladder cancer, melanoma, and cancers of the esophagus, prostate, brain, and kidney. The resolution references California's pioneering efforts in protecting firefighters, such as passing the first firefighter cancer presumption law in 1982 and establishing a personal exposure reporting system. It also notes recent developments, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying firefighting as a known human carcinogen in 2022 and the establishment of the California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program in 2023, which has already awarded nearly $6 million in research grants. The resolution aims to raise awareness about the critical cancer risks faced by firefighters and underscore the importance of continued research, prevention, and support for these essential first responders.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SCR13