First responder mental health bill sent to governor

A bill to provide mental health benefits for law enforcement officers and firefighters in Virginia who witness tragedies will soon be on the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam after the Virginia House of Delegates unanimously passed the legislation Friday.

S.B. 561, which passed the state Senate 36 to 2 earlier this month, would provide comp benefits to first responders who witness a “qualifying event,” including death, mass casualty events and anything “involving an immediate threat to the life of the claimant or another individual.” The bill also calls for employers of law enforcement officers or firefighters to adopt policies for peer support and mental health care and for training facilities to provide “resilience and self-care” training techniques. Most of the provisions would go into effect in January 2021, with the training elements going into effect later that year.

S.B. 561, which passed the state Senate 36 to 2, would provide comp benefits to first responders who witness a “qualifying event,” including death, mass casualty events and anything “involving an immediate threat to the life of the claimant or another individual.” The bill also calls for employers of law enforcement officers or firefighters to adopt policies for peer support and mental health care and for training facilities to provide “resilience and self-care” training techniques. Most of the provisions would go into effect in January 2021, with the training elements going into effect later that year.

West Virginia’s House of Representatives on Friday also unanimously passed legislation to provide workers compensation coverage for firefighters and other first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. H.B. 2321 now moves to the state’s Senate for consideration.