Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut signed a bill that will expand workers’ compensation coverage for first responders in select situations that result in mental or emotional impairments, and not just physical injuries.

Senate Bill 164 makes first responders like police officers, firefighters and parole officers eligible to receive certain workers’ comp benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused during duty in “qualifying events”. These events include seeing a deceased minor, a death, or a traumatic physical injury that resulted in the loss of a vital body part. The current law typically does not allow benefits for a mental or emotional injury unless it arises from a physical injury or occupational disease.

https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB-164

Benefits are limited to 52 weeks and must occur within four years after the qualifying event, and it establishes eligibility requirements and a process for employers to contest PTSD claims. It also offsets the amount of weekly benefits for PTSD by the amount of other benefits like long-term or short-term disability or Social Security. An employee’s weekly PTSD benefits combined with their other benefits cannot exceed their average weekly wage.

 The law also provides for psychiatric care in cases where an officer has fired their weapon or electronic defense weapon in the course of duty. The bill also requires the Labor and Public Employees Committee to review the potential for expanding benefits to EMTs and Department of Correction employees who might not otherwise be eligible.

This will become effective July 1, 2019.

Read the text of the bill here.