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SCS/SBs 119 & 120 - This act modifies provisions relating to first responders. COMPENSATION FOR PEACE OFFICERS (Sections 84.480 & 84.510) This act repeals provisions relating to a mandatory salary range for the Kansas City chief of police and allows the Board of Police Commissioners to establish a range for the salary by resolution. Additionally, this act repeals provisions relating to a mandatory salary cap for Kansas City police officers as provided in the act. WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR FIRST RESPONDERS (Section 287.067) This act establishes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5) as a compensable occupational disease under workers' compensation when diagnosed in first responders. A first responder shall not require a physical injury in order to be eligible for benefits, but preexisting PTSD is not compensable. The time for notice of injury or death in cases of compensable PTSD is measured from exposure to one of the qualifying stressors listed in the DSM-5 criteria, or the diagnosis of the disorder, whichever is later. Any claim for compensation for an injury shall be properly noticed to the Division of Workers' Compensation within 52 weeks after the qualifying exposure, or the diagnosis of the disorder, whichever is later. MAX'S LAW (Sections 575.010, 575.353, 578.007, & 578.002) This act creates "Max's Law." Under current law, the offense of assault on a law enforcement animal is a Class C misdemeanor. This act provides that the offense of assault on a law enforcement animal is a Class A misdemeanor, if the law enforcement animal is not injured to the point of requiring veterinary care or treatment; a Class E felony if the law enforcement animal is seriously injured to the point of requiring veterinary care or treatment; and a Class D felony if the assault results in the death of such animal. Additionally, exemptions to the offenses of agroterrorism, animal neglect, and animal abuse shall not apply to the killing or injuring of a law enforcement animal while working. Finally, this act adds that any dog that is owned by or in the service of a law enforcement agency and that bites or injures another animal or human is exempt from the penalties of the offense of animal abuse. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HB 2697, et al (2022), SCS/HB 2088, et al (2022), SS/SCS/SB 850 (2022), and SB 765 (2022). MARY GRACE PRINGLE
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