Senate Bill 168 aims to amend 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 proposes that these individuals will no longer need to demonstrate a diagnosis based on the standard of "unusual stress" that exceeds typical emotional strain, which is currently required under existing law. Instead, they will be held to the same standard as law enforcement officers and full-time firefighters. 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 amendments to existing statutes. Notably, it renumbers and amends the definition of "firefighter" to include both full-time employees and volunteers. New definitions are created for "correctional officer," "emergency medical responder," "emergency medical services practitioner," and "medicolegal investigation staff member." Furthermore, the introductory language of the statute regarding mental injuries is amended to include these new categories of workers, ensuring they are recognized under the same provisions as law enforcement officers for claims related to PTSD.

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