Bartolotta Bill Supporting First Responders Poised for Enactment

HARRISBURG - The General Assembly passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) to allow first responders to access workers' compensation benefits for a post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). The bill is now poised for enactment.

Under the bill, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics would be entitled to benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation law for psychological traumas arising from individual traumatic events or cumulative highly stressful experiences resulting from their employment - even in the absence of physical injuries requiring medical treatment.

Current Pennsylvania law requires a first responder to prove there were "objective abnormal working conditions" to establish a PTSI claim. This standard is often difficult to meet.

"First responders commonly experience the most harrowing moments in others' lives as part of their jobs. Because it's typical for them - as opposed to something that would be very out of the ordinary for most other jobs - they are barred from accessing important care. We cannot continue to ask them to help us through extremely upsetting experiences without giving them crucial support," Bartolotta said.

Senate Bill 365 would create clearer criteria for establishing a PTSI claim. It would require diagnosis from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist per the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.

"We allocate resources to train, educate and prepare first responders to protect us and respond to crises but often fail to provide sufficient resources to support these individuals' mental health. My bill would set reasonable standards to establish a workers' compensation PTSI claim so our first responders receive the treatment they need and deserve," Bartolotta said.

CONTACT: Katrina Hanna, 717-787-1463