New Laws Protect Firefighters and K-9’s

Legislation goes in effect Friday that expands benefits for firefighters injured in the line of duty. Under existing law, the Barry Brady Act allows firefighters to be eligible for workers compensation benefits for certain cancers. The act established a presumption that any conditions or impairments of full-time firefighters were caused by certain occupational cancers that occurred while on the job. Cancers originally covered are non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon cancer, skin cancer, and multiple myeloma. The new law taking effect expands that list to include leukemia and testicular cancer.

Another is a new law that protects law enforcement K-9’s. The new law strengthens the penalty for anyone who harms a law enforcement or service animal in Tennessee. Known as Joker’s Law, the bill increases the penalty for anyone who knowingly and unlawfully kills a police dog, fire dog, search and rescue dog, service animal or police horse. Offenders will now be charged with a Class B felony.