This bill amends the existing workers' compensation law to establish a presumption that acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in emergency responders are occupationally caused. Specifically, it introduces a new section, RSA 281-A:17-c, which states that there is a prima facie presumption of occupational causation for these conditions in emergency responders, as defined in RSA 281-A:2, V-c. The bill also modifies the determination of the "date of injury" for these conditions, aligning it with the provisions for occupational disease or cumulative trauma as outlined in RSA 281-A:16.

The bill includes specific insertions and deletions to current law. It inserts a new provision that clarifies the date of injury for acute stress disorder and PTSD in emergency responders will follow the same rules as those for occupational diseases or cumulative trauma. Additionally, it deletes the reference to RSA 281-A:16 from the existing law, which may have previously governed the determination of injury dates. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 281-A:17-c