The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 45-19 to include provisions for full salary, wage, and benefits payment to 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. It also covers medical and related expenses, with the employer responsible for the difference between insurance coverage and actual costs. A notable insertion is the presumption that a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by a licensed mental health professional, related to employment or off-duty emergency assistance, is considered a line of duty injury, unless proven otherwise. The bill defines various roles and outlines procedures for claiming benefits, including sworn declarations. However, PTSD resulting from adverse job actions is not covered.

The bill also sets forth procedures for state employees in Rhode Island to apply for an accidental disability retirement allowance within specific timeframes after an injury is certified as permanent. Failure to apply within these timeframes results in termination of injured-on-duty (IOD) payments. Additionally, the bill requires state employees currently on IOD benefits, or those who become entitled to such benefits, to apply for an accidental disability retirement allowance within 60 days after maximum medical improvement or within 18 months of the injury. Provisions for those injured before July 1, 2019, are included, and the bill amends Section 45-21.2-9 to define "aggravation" and "reinjury" and clarify retirement conditions for firefighters with occupational cancer. The bill also addresses the process for appealing retirement board determinations and outlines options for members who do not qualify for accidental disability retirement. The bill is intended to support police officers and firefighters suffering from PTSI/PTSD due to their service and will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2059  SUB A: 45-19-1, 45-21.2-9
2059: 45-19-1, 45-21.2-9