What's happening
This bill ensures police, firefighters, EMTs, and similar personnel diagnosed with PTSD are presumed eligible for workers' compensation benefits.
Why it matters
Shifts the burden of proof. The bill makes it easier for covered emergency personnel with PTSD to get workers' compensation by presuming their PTSD is job-related, unless there is strong evidence showing it was caused by something outside of work. This means individuals won’t have to fight to prove their mental health condition is work-related, reducing barriers to support.
Expands eligibility. It includes not just police and firefighters but also correction officers, EMTs, paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and others certified for emergency medical care—broadening protection to a wide range of frontline responders who face traumatic incidents.
Timeframe for claims. The bill allows claims for PTSD diagnosed up to three years after the last day of employment in a covered role, recognizing that symptoms and diagnosis can emerge or be acknowledged after leaving service.
Addresses stigma and access. By presuming PTSD is work-related for first responders, the bill may reduce stigma and encourage more affected personnel to seek help and compensation, acknowledging the mental health risks these jobs entail.
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PTSD Benefits for First Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to labor
- Print number 1979a
- Amend (t) and recommit to labor
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
PTSD Benefits for First Responders
In Senate Committee · Labor · Sponsor Andrew Gounardes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1979--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 18, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to benefits for police officers, correction officers, firefighters, and other emergency personnel diagnosed with PTSD
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 10 of the workers' compensation law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) Where a police officer, correction officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, emergency dispatcher or other person certified to provide medical care in emergencies is diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist to have post-traumatic stress disorder, it shall be presumed to have been incurred during service in the line of duty and shall be compensable, unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the post-traumatic stress disorder was caused by nonservice-connected risk factors or nonservice-connected exposure. Such person who is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder within three years of the last active date of employment as a police officer, correction officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, emergency dispatcher or other person certified to provide medical care in emergencies shall be eligible for benefits under this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06188-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.