The bill, SB 394, seeks to provide workers' compensation coverage for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specifically for first responders in Montana, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency care providers. It allows these individuals to file compensable claims for PTSD if diagnosed according to the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as of July 1, 2025. The bill amends existing laws to clarify that PTSD claims are subject to the provisions of Title 39, chapter 71, and introduces a new effective date for these changes. Additionally, it modifies the definition of "occupational disease" to include PTSD while excluding other stress-related claims, which are not compensable under current law.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes that stress claims, often referred to as "mental-mental" or "mental-physical" claims, are generally not compensable unless specified in this new section. It clarifies that an injury can include PTSD resulting from specific traumatic events, while emotional or mental stress conditions are not considered injuries unless they meet the established criteria for PTSD. The amendments aim to ensure that first responders who experience PTSD due to their duties receive the necessary support and compensation while maintaining a self-administering workers' compensation system that minimizes reliance on legal intervention for claim processing.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_1(1): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_1(2): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_1(3): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_1(4): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_1(5): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_1: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(1): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(10): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(11): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(2): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(3): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(4): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(5): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(6): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(7): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(8): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2(9): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_2: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(1): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(10): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(11): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(12): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(13): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(14): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(15): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(2): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(3): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(4): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(5): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(6): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(7): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(8): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3(9): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_3: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(1): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(10): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(11): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(12): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(2): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(3): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(4): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(5): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(6): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(7): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(8): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X(9): 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119
SB0394_X: 39-71-105, 39-71-116, 39-71-119