O’Mara lauds passage of bill to include PTSI in Workers’ Compensation for emergency responders
Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara October 23, 2024 | 12:57 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 23 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara is heralding the final passage of legislation she wrote to provide Workers’ Compensation coverage for emergency responders who sustain post-traumatic stress injuries in the line of duty.
The legislation has been a passion project for O’Mara, who lost her father – a Philadelphia firefighter – to suicide.
“In the aftermath of suicide, we're haunted not just by the loss, but by the silence of what might have been prevented,” said O’Mara, D-Delaware. “That feeling has driven me to see this legislation through, so that it can majorly reduce harm to our emergency-responder community in Pennsylvania.”
O’Mara’s bill language from her H.B. 1632 was amended into S.B. 365, which, upon its final passage today, will be sent to Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature into law.
An estimated 30% of emergency responders develop behavioral health conditions, including depression and PTSI.
“While individuals in many other professions can already qualify for Workers’ Compensation for a mental-mental injury like PTSI, Pennsylvania Supreme Court determined first responders do not qualify because witnessing tragedy after tragedy is part of their normal working conditions,” O’Mara said. “But nothing about what first responders experience during an emergency is normal, and this legislation corrects an injustice to allow them to get the mental health resources they need.”
Specifically, the bill removes the abnormal working condition requirement for emergency responders to collect Workers’ Compensation for PTSI treatment. Emergency responders would have to be diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.
"PTSI care can save an emergency responder’s life, and covering PTSI under Workers' Compensation will help protect their livelihoods while allowing them to continue serving our communities," O'Mara said. "First responders care for us during our most vulnerable moments; it is our duty to support them during theirs."