Senate Bill 394 seeks to extend workers' compensation coverage for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to first responders in Montana, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency care providers. The bill allows these individuals to file claims for PTSD if diagnosed according to the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, effective July 1, 2025. It amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate these provisions and clarifies that PTSD claims will follow the same regulations as other workers' compensation claims unless stated otherwise.

Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "occupational disease" to exclude conditions arising from emotional or mental stress, with the exception of PTSD claims under this new legislation. It reinforces that stress claims, often categorized as "mental-mental" or "mental-physical," are generally not compensable under Montana's workers' compensation laws, thereby aiming to limit the economic burden on the system. The bill includes specific insertions and deletions to refine the definitions of "injury" and "accident," ensuring that PTSD is recognized as a compensable injury while maintaining strict criteria for other emotional or mental stress-related conditions.

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(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