Alabama bill would cover PTSD health costs for first responders
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A bill was introduced in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday that would establish a fund for PTSD health care costs to first responders.
Under the existing state workers compensation law, an occupational disease is not considered to include a mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder, unless a physical injury accompanies the mental illness.
H.B. 274 would require certain benefits be provided to paid first responders who suffer from work-related PTSD, including reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket treatment expense, paid time off for treatment, and limited disability if a paid first responder is not able to work due to PTSD.
The Secretary of the Department of Labor would be authorized to regulate a fund established by the Alabama League of Municipalities to provide coverage for the benefits in this bill.
The bill was introduced with 24 sponsors and referred to the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, where it is pending.
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