Assembly Bill 158 proposes amendments to the conditions of liability for workers' compensation benefits specifically for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners, and medical examiners diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill removes the requirement for these individuals to demonstrate that their PTSD diagnosis is based on unusual stress exceeding typical emotional strain, aligning their claims process with that of law enforcement officers and full-time firefighters. Additionally, it establishes that these workers can receive compensation for PTSD diagnoses up to three times in their lifetime, regardless of changes in employment.

The bill also includes several new definitions and clarifications within the workers' compensation statutes. It renumbers and amends existing definitions, such as changing "fire fighter" to "firefighter" and introduces new terms for correctional officers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, and medicolegal investigation staff members. The introductory language for the conditions under which mental injuries are compensable has been updated to include these new categories of workers, ensuring they are treated equitably in the context of workers' compensation claims related to PTSD.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 102.17(9)(b)(intro.), 102.17