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Committee advances HB 81 after tabling PTSD and pamphlet amendments, adopts ombudsman name change
Summary
The House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee advanced House Bill 81 after tabling two proposed amendments — one on PTSD compensability and one requiring a workers' compensation informational pamphlet — and adopting an amendment renaming the ombuds office.
The House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee advanced House Bill 81 after a series of amendment votes at the bill’s third hearing.
Representative Brandon offered an amendment to make a peace officer, firefighter or emergency medical worker diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits for up to one year regardless of accompanying physical injury and to eliminate the state PTSD fund. Brandon read the amendment and urged action, saying he preferred to call PTSD “PTSI” because “it's an injury, not a disorder.” He also said the Bureau of Workers' Compensation had “got like an $8,000,000,000 surplus” and cited a Florida law change as an example while urging more retention for first responders.
After discussion, Representative Teske moved to lay Brandon’s amendment on the table. The clerk’s roll call recorded yes votes from Chair Peterson, Vice Chair Teske, Representative Byrd, Representative Claggett, Representative Matthews, Representative Miller, Representative Romer, Representative Swearingen, Representative Thomas and Representative Young; no votes from Ranking Member Brennan, Representative Glassburn and Representative White. The amendment to extend compensability for PTSD for up to one year was laid on the table (tally: yes 10, no 3).
Representative Romer then offered amendment 0243, which would require the administrator of workers' compensation to prepare and post an informational pamphlet explaining how to report an injury or occupational disease, how to complete forms, the importance of indicating a work-related injury to health care providers, and BWC contact information; it would also require employers to provide the pamphlet at hire, annually, and when an employer becomes aware of a workplace injury. After discussion, Vice Chair Teske moved to lay the pamphlet amendment on the table; the roll call produced the same recorded pattern (tally: yes 10, no 3) and the amendment was laid on the table.
Representative Brennan moved amendment 253, which renames the Workers' Compensation Ombuds system to the Workers' Compensation Customer Advocacy Office and changes titles such as chief ombudsperson to chief customer advocate and assistant ombudspersons to assistant customer advocates. The amendment was added to the bill by unanimous consent; the chair stated “Seeing no objection, the amendment becomes part of the bill.”
Representative Teske then moved that House Bill 81 be favorably reported and recommended for passage. The clerk called the roll and the committee voted to report HB 81 out of committee and refer it to the House Rules and Reference Committee. The chair asked members to sign the report as it circled the room.
