Committee hears bill to allow PTSD workers’‑comp claims for county coroners, medical examiner staff

The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Friday heard testimony on House Bill 1002, which would allow county coroners and medical‑examiner personnel to file occupational‑disease workers’ compensation claims for post‑traumatic stress disorder and, for employees hired after Jan. 1, 2026, make coverage contingent on an employer‑provided pre‑employment psychological exam that rules out preexisting PTSD.

Committee staff summarized current law and the bill, and county coroners and medical‑examiner personnel and their associations urged lawmakers to extend coverage to the group while business groups and small‑business representatives warned of cost pressures for the state fund.

Ben McCarthy, staff to the committee, said Washington law already makes PTSD an occupational disease in limited first‑responder roles and that HB 1002 “would extend this exemption…to county coroners and medical examiner personnel.” The bill copies parts of existing statutes for firefighters and law enforcement by permitting occupational‑disease claims based on PTSD for coroner and medical‑examiner staff. McCarthy also noted the bill’s conditional rule for hires after Jan. 1, 2026:…