AL HB51

Amends Alabama Code Section 25-5-110 to expand the definition of "occupational disease" for workers' compensation purposes to include mental diseases or disorders for paid law enforcement officers, paid firefighters, and paid emergency medical workers.

Mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are now covered as occupational diseases when they arise out of and in the course of employment, without requiring an accompanying physical injury.

Overrides existing provisions in Sections 25-5-1(7) and 25-5-11 that previously required a physical injury to accompany mental health claims.

Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.