Florida governor signs PTSD first responders bill

Florida will now cover post-traumatic stress disorder under workers compensation for first responders after Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday sign a bill that would pave the way.

Both the state’s Senate and House of Representatives passed S.B. 376 unanimously in recent weeks. A similar bill failed last year.

The bill would provide both medical and paid leave for first responders diagnosed with PTSD if one of 11 conditions are met. The conditions include witnessing a homicide, treating an injured person, or seeing a dead child, according to the bill.

The law will go into effect Oct. 1, 2018.