This bill reestablishes the commission to study the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders and to consider whether PTSD should be covered under workers' compensation. The commission will be composed of various members including one senator, three members of the house of representatives from specified committees, the labor commissioner or designee, the commissioner of safety or designee, the insurance commissioner or designee, the commissioner of the department of corrections or designee, and representatives from several associations related to first responders, mental health, and legal justice. The commission is tasked with studying options for streamlining the workers' compensation process to avoid re-traumatization of first responders with PTSD, establishing comfort dog standards, considering the addition of "part-time volunteer first responder" to a funeral director's death certificate drop-down menu, and any other relevant matters.

The commission is required to elect a chairperson, convene its first meeting within 45 days of the effective date of the section, and achieve a quorum with nine members. An interim report of the commission's findings and recommendations for proposed legislation is due by November 1, 2024, with a final report due by November 1, 2025. The bill also includes a repeal of RSA 281-A:17-e, which pertains to the commission studying PTSD in first responders, effective November 1, 2025. The remainder of the act will take effect upon its passage, with the specified section becoming effective on May 31, 2024. No specific insertions or deletions of legal language are marked in the provided text.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 281-A:17-e
Version adopted by both bodies: 281-A:17-e
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 281-A:17-e