VIDEO: A bill to protect firefighters injured during training is one step closer to becoming law. House Bill 749, now renamed the “Anthony Gillan Act,” has cleared its final committee and will soon go before the full House for a vote. The bill has one House stop ahead in the State Affairs Committee before advancing to the floor. The bill, sponsored by State Representatives Judson Sapp and Richard Gentry, would guarantee insurance coverage for firefighters who suffer permanent disabilities during training exercises.
Last week, the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County attended the Florida Professional Firefighters’ legislative convention in Tallahassee, where this bill was a major topic of discussion. Advocates say it fills a critical gap in firefighter protections. The bill is named after Anthony Gillan, a former Marion County firefighter who was severely injured in training and subsequently lost his job. Supporters argue that no firefighter injured in the line of duty—whether in training or on a call—should lose their benefits.
