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House committee gives do-pass to bill creating workers’ compensation presumption for police injuries
Summary
A House committee recommended passage of House Bill 132 as amended, which would create presumptions in the state workers’ compensation law that certain conditions affecting police officers — including sensorineural hearing loss, PTSD and heart injuries occurring within 24 hours of a call or training — are work-related; the amendment conditions some presumptions on employer training and medical-screening requirements.
The committee of the House of Representatives voted to give House Bill 132 a "do pass" recommendation after testimony from the bill sponsor, law-enforcement groups and workers' compensation officials.
The sponsor (identified only as a representative in the transcript) said HB132 would create a presumption in New Mexico workers' compensation law that certain conditions suffered by police officers are job-related, easing access to benefits while preserving employers’ ability to rebut claims. "This bill corrects this by creating a presumption within the workers' compensation act that certain occupational conditions suffered by police officers are work related," the sponsor said.
Why it matters: supporters said the change would speed care and reduce disputes over causation for conditions they said are prevalent among officers, including cumulative trauma that can cause post-traumatic stress disorder and long-term hearing damage from repeated exposure to loud sounds.
Supporters at the hearing included Chris Bolzano of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, who told the committee PTSD "is not always the result of a single event, but often the result of a cumulative trauma across a career," and urged lawmakers to consider adjusting a 20-year access requirement so officers in smaller departments can obtain benefits earlier. Heather Jordan, director of the Workers' Compensation Administration, said the amendment creates presumptions under the Occupational Disease and Disablement Act for conditions including hearing loss, heart issues and PTSD and recommended the committee vote in favor. Major Joseph Romero of the New Mexico State Police and Carter Bundy of AFSCME/NMFL also voiced support.
Testimony and data: the Workers' Compensation Administration provided preliminary statewide claims data from 2016 through 2025 showing 75 claims potentially applicable to the bill as originally drafted — about 20 related to hearing loss, 11 to heart problems, and roughly 44 to mental-injury claims that would include PTSD, according to the administration's presentation. A medical witness, Dr. Justin Hazen, described studies showing correlations between law-enforcement duties (shiftwork, noise exposure, repeated traumatic incidents) and the conditions named in the bill.
Key amendment details: the amendment defines "noise-induced hearing loss" (permanent sensorineural impairment, including tinnitus); it lists three presumptions that would be considered work related for police officers (hearing loss, PTSD as diagnosed by a physician or psychologist that results in impairment or death, and a heart injury or stroke suffered within 24 hours of responding to or returning from a call or during supervised physical training). The amendment also specifies the presumption does not apply if the officer's employer lacks a current physical-training program and the officer does not have a current medical screening under the occupational health and safety act and associated rules; the amendment preserves the right for officers to demonstrate causation in court by a preponderance of the evidence.
Concerns and clarifications: members questioned whether the training/medical-screening condition could exclude officers in smaller departments. The transcript shows the sponsor and witnesses said training and certification requirements vary by department and that the language mirrors a comparable firefighter statute already in effect; committee members asked staff to watch for unintended exclusions and suggested preventive programs (exercise, wellness) to reduce long-term harm.
Committee action and next steps: Representative DeRazas moved and Representative Garcia seconded a "do pass" recommendation for HB132 as amended; the chair recorded no opposition during the recorded floor discussion and announced the committee granted a do-pass recommendation. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally or a floor vote on the full House calendar; the bill will move forward per committee rules.
Sources: testimony and data were presented at the committee hearing by the bill sponsor (name not provided in the transcript), medical witnesses (Dr. Justin Hazen; psychologist Dr. Nicole Duranzo was noted as present earlier), Commander Bartlett of the Albuquerque Police Department, Chris Bolzano (Albuquerque Police Officers Association), Heather Jordan (Workers' Compensation Administration), Major Joseph Romero (New Mexico State Police), Carter Bundy (AFSCME/NMFL) and online commenter Michael Dyle (workers' compensation attorney).
