Workers' compensation; mental health-related injuries; first responders; service weapon; CLEET certification; effective date.

HB 1842 modifies Oklahoma's workers' compensation rules for mental health injuries affecting first responders. It removes the requirement for a physical injury to claim PTSD-related compensation for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs responding to emergencies. The bill limits mental injury disability benefits to 52 weeks (with 26 weeks for initial coverage), caps medical treatment costs at $10,000, and requires employers to suspend CLEET certification and collect service weapons during disability. This directly affects full-time and volunteer first responders whose mental health conditions arise from emergency response duties.