AN ACT RECOGNIZING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AS AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE.

This bill (SB 462) amends the state's workers' compensation law to explicitly include substance use disorder as an "occupational disease" when it results from repetitive strain injuries sustained in the workplace. It directly affects workers in jobs involving repetitive motions (like assembly line work or data entry) who develop substance use disorder due to workplace conditions. The key change adds substance use disorder to the legal definition of occupational disease, allowing affected workers to seek workers' compensation coverage for treatment and related costs. This policy shift focuses on expanding eligibility for benefits under existing workers' compensation rules, without changing the scope of other occupational disease protections.