HB323 Summary

• Establishes a fund administered by the Alabama League of Municipalities to provide benefits to first responders (career firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and law enforcement officers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD.

• Provides up to $15,000 lifetime reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical costs (co-payments and deductibles) and mileage reimbursement at IRS medical rates for travel to authorized treating physicians located at least 25 miles away.

• Requires employers to provide full-time covered participants up to 80 additional paid work hours per claim for PTSD treatment, separate from existing leave benefits and without impact on performance evaluations or disciplinary actions.

• Requires employers to pay annual premiums (determined by actuarial study and approved by the Department of Labor Secretary) by December 31 each year; volunteer firefighters may opt-in at their own expense.

• Exempts benefit payments from state income tax and requires a 2/3 legislative vote to become effective for local entities, or requires local entity approval or state funding appropriation.