House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to amend Montana's workers' compensation laws to provide insurance coverage for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specifically for first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency care providers. The bill stipulates that a first responder diagnosed with PTSD must have their condition linked to work-related events, explicitly excluding claims related to personnel actions such as disciplinary measures. It also clarifies the definition of "first responder" and establishes the conditions under which PTSD claims can be compensable, while maintaining that other types of stress claims, termed "mental-mental" or "mental-physical," remain non-compensable.

The bill introduces new legal language that defines "injury" to include PTSD arising from a specific traumatic event, while excluding emotional or mental stress not linked to such events. It also provides new definitions for "temporary partial disability" and "temporary total disability" in relation to PTSD claims. The effective date for these provisions is set for July 1, 2025, meaning that only claims for PTSD related to incidents occurring on or after this date will be applicable. Additionally, a severability clause is included to ensure that if any part of the act is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable. Overall, the bill aims to enhance workers' compensation coverage for mental health conditions resulting from workplace incidents.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_1(1): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_1(2): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_1(3): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_1(4): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_1(5): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_1: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(1): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(2): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(3): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(4): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(5): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(6): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(7): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(8): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2(9): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
HB0552_2: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119