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Committee hears emotional testimony on SB 588 to recognize PTSD as occupational injury for police, firefighters; hearing continued

2252725 · January 30, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Labor and Business heard emotional testimony Jan. 30 on SB 588, a bill that would classify PTSD suffered by police officers and firefighters as a compensable PERS occupational injury and set deadlines for contested-case hearings; the committee will continue the hearing to receive PERS input and additional witnesses.

The Senate Committee on Labor and Business held a public hearing Jan. 30 on Senate Bill 588, which would recognize post-traumatic stress disorder as an injury or occupational disease sustained in the actual performance of duties by police officers and firefighters for purposes of specified benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and would require expedited contested-case hearings in certain circumstances.

Multiple witnesses described personal and family consequences from lengthy delays and denials in PERS disability processing for PTSD. Sean Ellis, a former police officer from Clackamas County, testified that he was diagnosed with PTSD after a…

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