HB67 Summary

• Counties, municipalities, and fire districts must reimburse law enforcement officers and firefighters diagnosed with PTSD for treatment copayments, or maintain sufficient insurance coverage for such reimbursements.

• Eligible officers and firefighters must participate in peer support services, receive certification of PTSD diagnosis from a licensed clinical psychologist or board-certified psychiatrist using symptom validity testing, and agree to liability exemptions for their employer.

• Employers must provide disability payments equal to 66 2/3 percent of the officer or firefighter's base compensation on a monthly basis for up to 12 months if the employee is unable to return to work due to PTSD from a qualifying incident.

• A qualifying "specific event" includes witnessing or being directly engaged in actions resulting in death, or witnessing injuries so severe they lead to death within 48 hours of hospital arrival, occurring during the line and scope of duty.

• Benefits and payments are excluded from state income taxation; volunteer fire departments may elect to provide these benefits at their discretion with 60 days' notice; act becomes effective January 1, 2023.