HB 1212 Summary

• Adds posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a compensable occupational disease when caused solely by witnessing a coworker's fatal workplace injury.

• Requires a treating physician expert to determine PTSD was solely caused by witnessing the fatal injury, with specific physician statement requirements including history, diagnosis, causal opinion, and disability assessment.

• Establishes a 5-year window from the date of the fatal injury for disablement to occur to qualify for PTSD compensation, and a 1-year deadline to file a claim from the date of PTSD diagnosis.

• Allows employees disabled by PTSD to continue treatment with the treating PTSD expert physician and requires employers to cover reasonable travel, food, and lodging expenses if treatment is outside the employment county.

• Defines "fellow employee" as any individual employed on the same premises who dies from a workplace injury, regardless of whether employed by the same corporate entity as the claimant.

• Effective July 1, 2014.