SB 311 - This act provides that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in any person who is a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher or other first responder shall be presumed as an occupational disease resulting from employment if: · The person has completed at least 5 years of employment; and
· The person was examined by a medical professional upon commencing employment and the examination failed to reveal any evidence of PTSD.
Denial of a claim under this act shall be on the basis of clear and convincing medical evidence that the cause of the PTSD is unrelated to the person's employment as a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher, or other first responder.
This act is identical to SB 708 (2022) and similar to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 24 (2023), HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 119 & 120 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SB 186 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SBs 189, et al (2023), HB 164 (2023), HB 466 (2023), SCS/HCS/HBs 640 & 729 (2023), a provision in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 301 (2023), HB 1640 (2022), a provision in HCS/HB 2054 (2022), and SB 545 (2020).
SCOTT SVAGERA