SB589 Summary

• Defines "emergency responder" as a compensated person or volunteer in public safety and emergency services, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency management personnel, emergency medical personnel, and emergency service personnel

• Exempts emergency responders from the requirement that mental injury or illness must be caused by physical injury to the employee's body to be compensable

• Requires mental injury or illness claims to be diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and meet criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

• Increases disability benefits for mental injury or illness claims from 26 weeks to 52 weeks

• Allows death benefits to dependents of emergency responders when death results from mental injury or illness within one year of last compensation payment or two years from date of injury, whichever is longer, regardless of when death occurs after the incident