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. It introduces a new provision that presumes police officers or firefighters diagnosed with PTSD to have sustained an injury in the line of duty, unless proven otherwise. The bill also defines various roles and outlines the procedures for claiming benefits. However, it excludes PTSD diagnoses arising from disciplinary actions or similar adverse job actions.

The bill further specifies the process for state employees in Rhode Island who are receiving injured-on-duty (IOD) benefits due to a permanent injury to apply for an accidental disability retirement allowance within a set timeframe or face termination of their IOD payments. It also provides a grace period for those injured prior to July 1, 2019, to apply for benefits. The bill amends the definition of "accidental disability retirement" and includes provisions for occupational cancer. It extends benefits to those with PTSI or PTSD, outlines the appeal process for retirement board determinations, and details the options available if accidental disability retirement is not granted. The act would take effect upon passage.

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