James “Jimmy” Malone Act Takes Effect Jan. 1

MARYLAND. — On Jan. 1, the James “Jimmy” Malone Act will go into effect in Maryland, requiring counties to provide free cancer screenings to professional firefighters.

Senate Bill 374, cross-filed with House Bill 459, will require counties that offer self-insured employee health care plans to provide career firefighters with preventive cancer screenings free of charge.

“Unfortunately, cancer is one of the leading causes of death for firefighters. We’ve found over the years that more and more guys and gals are developing occupational cancer,” Deputy Chief Chris Truitt of the Salisbury Fire Department said.

The James “Jimmy” Malone Act also requires the Maryland Health Care Commission to conduct a study on firefighter cancer prevention efforts by 2028. Co-sponsor of the bill, State Senator Clarence Lam, says more laws to protect the health of first responders are needed.

“These are public servants; these are folks who are in fire and rescue, running into buildings that are on fire and trying to save our neighborhoods. They’re exposed to a lot of different chemicals — often times things that they don’t even know about. As a result, they have a higher incidence of cancers and other significant medical conditions,” Lam said.

The bill’s namesake comes from former Baltimore County Delegate Jim Malone, a career firefighter who lost his life to cancer.

“Being able to have those screenings, prevention, [and] early diagnosis… there are a lot of benefits to having a screening done and having it done early on,” breast cancer awareness advocate and Executive Director of Women Supporting Women Jocelyn Feist said.