– In the 2021 Legislative Session, the Hometown Heroes Act authored by Senator Paul Gazelka(R-East Gull Lake) was included in the Senate’s final Judiciary budget. The legislation addressed the alarmingly high occurrences of cancer, cardiac issues, and emotional trauma facing the over 22,000 firefighters across the state. Today with unanimous support, the Minnesota Senate passed additional legislation that clarifies who is eligible for benefits and how the bill’s insurance option interacts and conforms to insurance regulations. 

The original bill established a critical care policy option for all firefighters diagnosed with cancer or cardiac issues. Today’s clarification language states that this insurance option is only to be offered to active-duty firefighters. Any firefighter that has been diagnosed with cancer or heart disease after August 1, 2021, qualifies for the policy, given that they apply for coverage within the 12-month window beginning after diagnosis. 

“Last year, I was incredibly proud of Republicans’ work to secure the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program,” Senator Gazelka said. “Firefighters are heroic public servants. They are heroes and deserve our support in whatever mental or physical health issues they face. We ask them to risk their lives to save our loved ones, homes, and communities. I’m happy that today we were able to revise the legislation and make a few clarifications so that our active firefighters get the support they deserve.”

This week’s language clarified 3 key portions of the program: 

• Defines “critical illness” as a “cardiac disease and cancer as well as other illnesses covered by a policy of insurance” 
• Clarifies which firefighters are eligible for the program 
• Clarifies the start date of benefits