Senate Bill 168 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, particularly in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill removes the requirement for these individuals to demonstrate that their PTSD diagnosis is based on "unusual stress of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain" that all employees experience. Instead, they will be held to the same standard as law enforcement officers and full-time firefighters, allowing them to claim benefits for PTSD without the previous stringent criteria. Additionally, the bill limits compensation for PTSD to three diagnoses over a 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 creating new definitions for "correctional officer," "emergency medical responder," "emergency medical services practitioner," and "medicolegal investigation staff member." Furthermore, it amends the introductory language of the statute to include these new categories of workers eligible for compensation claims related to mental injuries not accompanied by physical injuries. The changes are set to take effect following the approval of new rates for workers' compensation insurance by the commissioner of insurance.

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