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Blue Ridge council readies implementation of state-mandated PTSD coverage for public safety officers
Summary
Council members reviewed House Bill 451’s requirement for a state-administered PTSD benefit for first responders, directed staff to have a resolution drafted for the state by Jan. 1, 2025, and discussed coverage scope and cost options.
Blue Ridge’s council discussed and began preparations to comply with a new state requirement that establishes a PTSD benefit for first responders, a program the city must have in place for 2025.
The presiding official said the state has enacted House Bill 451 and that the city must return a signed resolution to the state once its city attorney drafts the document. Staff told councilors the program will be administered through a vendor relationship (discussed as GMA/MetLife options) and that a resolution must be submitted to meet the state deadline of Jan. 1, 2025.
Why it matters: The benefit focuses the city’s attention on police staffing costs and budget planning because the ordinance requires an administrative process for claims and an insurance premium paid to a vendor. Council members and staff flagged that the council may need to amend the adopted budget to accommodate the required funding.
City staff described the program’s scope as limited to current employees while employed by the city; the benefit would not automatically continue after an officer leaves city employment, staff said. Councilors were given plan-option examples and preliminary cost ranges; staff cited a lowest estimated annual premium figure of $75.50 for a base option and noted that higher-tier plans carry larger monthly premiums and higher benefit ceilings. Participants also noted example benefit ceilings mentioned during the discussion (speakers referenced benefit levels that ranged up to several thousand dollars per month depending on plan design).
No formal ordinance was adopted at the meeting. The mayor and city staff explained the next steps: the city attorney will draft the resolution, council will review it, and staff must return the approved paperwork to the state before the statutory deadline. Officials said they will provide councilors with written plan options and premium estimates for formal review and possible budget amendment in January.
"I will make sure that each and every one of you gets this," the clerk said, describing documents to be circulated to councilors for review.
The council did not vote on a specific plan tier or premium at the meeting; members asked staff to return with options and cost impacts for incorporation into the budget process.
