RAPID CITY, S.D. – A Senate Bill that would help South Dakota firefighters – both paid and volunteer – with a common occupational hazard has failed in committee. It would have created presumptive cancer care for all firefighters in the state.
The bill was defeated in the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee by a vote of 7-2.
Senator David Johnson of Rapid City introduced the bill. He says it was out campaigned by lobbyists.
“Bottom line is it’s come down to the wallet,” he said, continuing, “It’s come down to the checkbook. The municipalities across the state of South Dakota and the counties, in fact, and the state legislature have said that ‘we don’t want to pay for this.'”
Johnson says if there is interest in the bill going forward it’s possible to reintroduce it next year.
