The bill amends Section 45-19-1 of the General Laws to ensure that police officers, firefighters, and related personnel who are incapacitated due to injuries or sickness contracted in the line of duty, or while rendering emergency assistance off-duty within Rhode Island, are entitled to their full salary, wage, benefits, and medical expenses. If insurance coverage is available, the employer is responsible for paying only the difference between the insurance coverage and the actual cost. The bill also recognizes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a line of duty injury when it results from the individual's employment or off-duty emergency assistance, excluding cases where PTSD arises from adverse job actions. Definitions for various roles and procedures for claiming benefits are outlined, including the submission of a sworn declaration by the injured party and witnesses.

The bill also sets forth the process for state employees to apply for an accidental disability retirement allowance from the state retirement board, with a 60-day application window after a physician or independent medical examiner certifies the injury as permanent. Failure to apply within this timeframe will result in the termination of injured-on-duty (IOD) payments. For employees injured prior to July 1, 2019, and receiving IOD benefits for 18 months or longer, there is a 90-day window from July 1, 2019, to apply for the accidental disability retirement benefit allowance. The bill includes insertions that clarify the definitions of "aggravation," "occupational cancer," and "reinjury" for the application process and specifies that those awarded an accidental disability pension will receive benefits consistent with § 36-10-15. Additionally, the bill outlines the appeal process to the Rhode Island workers’ compensation court and states that the bill would take effect upon passage, aiming to support police officers and firefighters suffering from PTSI.

Statutes affected:
230: 45-19-1, 45-21.2-9