Comp bill aims to cover PTSD for correctional officers

One year after Florida lawmakers passed a hard-won law to allow first responders to access workers compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder, lawmakers are considering a bill that would offer the same benefits to correctional officers.

S.B. 816, introduced Wednesday by state Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, would provide that, “under certain circumstances, posttraumatic stress disorder suffered by a correctional officer is an occupational disease compensable by workers’ compensation benefits,” according to a draft of the bill.

The benefits would “not require a physical injury and are not subject to certain apportionment or limitations; providing a time for notice of injury or death,” according to the bill.

The officer would have to be diagnosed with PTSD after witnessing a number of events listed in the bill, including death or deceased individuals with special attention to having witnessed such events occurring to a child.

The bill was referred to the Oversight, Transparency and Public Management Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee within the State Affairs Committee and would go into effect Oct. 1, 2020.