Committee advances bill to cover PTSD as a work injury for first responders after emotional testimony

Senate Bill 394, sponsored by Sen. Cora Neuman, would authorize workers’ compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) for first responders, including professional and volunteer firefighters, law enforcement officers, dispatchers and other emergency care providers. After a lengthy hearing with dozens of first-responder witnesses, the Business and Labor Committee voted to pass SB 394.

Why it matters: Supporters argued that repeated exposure to traumatic incidents is a workplace hazard for first responders and that treating PTSI as a compensable occupational injury would improve access to timely care, reduce long-term disability and save money by facilitating return-to-work. Opponents said the workers’ compensation system is an imperfect vehicle for behavioral-health coverage and raised concerns about costs, classification, and equal-protection questions if only a subset of workers were covered.

Testimon…