An act relating to providing workers’ compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by certain State employees

This bill establishes a legal presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in certain Vermont state employees was caused by their work duties, making it eligible for workers' compensation benefits. It specifically covers police officers, firefighters, rescue and ambulance workers, and classified state employees in corrections, public safety answering points, family services, veterans' homes, and attorneys and sheriffs' offices. Under the law, these workers diagnosed with PTSD within three years of their last active duty date would qualify for benefits unless evidence proves their condition resulted from non-work-related factors. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and amend existing state workers' compensation statutes to include mental health conditions under the line-of-duty presumption.