This bill revises Montana's workers' compensation laws to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a compensable condition specifically for first responders, such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and detention center employees. It establishes that first responders diagnosed with PTSD, according to the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, may file a compensable claim if the condition is work-related. The bill clarifies that PTSD claims will adhere to existing workers' compensation provisions unless otherwise specified, while also introducing a new section that allows for these claims, emphasizing that other stress-related claims remain non-compensable under current law.

Additionally, the bill amends definitions within the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to recognize PTSD as a compensable injury, provided the diagnosis is linked to events occurring on or after October 1, 2025. It specifies that injuries do not include conditions arising from emotional or mental stress, except for PTSD. New definitions for terms relevant to workers' compensation claims, such as "temporary partial disability" and "treating physician," are also introduced. The bill includes severability provisions to ensure that if any part is invalidated, the remaining sections will still be enforceable, ultimately aiming to provide clearer guidelines for the treatment of PTSD in the workers' compensation context.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119