HB44 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Section 25-5-110 to expand the definition of "occupational disease" for workers' compensation purposes to include mental diseases and disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, for emergency responders.

• Applies to law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and emergency medical technicians when mental health conditions arise out of and in the course of employment.

• Removes the requirement that a physical injury must accompany the mental disease or disorder for emergency responders to qualify for workers' compensation benefits.

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