ID S1028

Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSD) becomes a compensable injury for first responders when diagnosed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or PTSD-trained counselor and caused by work-related events.

First responders include peace officers, firefighters, volunteer emergency responders, emergency medical service (EMS) providers, and emergency communications officers.

First responder PTSD claims cannot result from personnel-related actions such as disciplinary action, job evaluation changes, or employment termination.

General psychological injuries remain non-compensable without accompanying physical injury, maintaining existing restrictions on psychological-only claims for non-first responder employees.

The first responder PTSD provisions are effective for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2019, and expire on July 1, 2023.