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

This bill would allow certain public employees in Vermont to receive workers' compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder if it is diagnosed by a mental health professional. It specifically covers police officers, rescue or ambulance workers, firefighters, state employees, and judiciary employees by creating a legal presumption that their PTSD was caused by their work duties rather than personal factors. The law requires that the diagnosis occur within three years of the employee's last active duty date for them to be eligible for benefits. This change would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would require employers to pay compensation claims for qualifying cases unless evidence proves the condition resulted from non-work-related causes.