Jan Hochadel

Senator Hochadel Applauds Passage of Workers’ Comp Coverage for PTSI in Any Employee

HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden) is applauding unanimous Senate passage of a bill that will extend certain workers’ comp benefits now in place for police, firefighters and others who witness tragic events on the job to any employee on any job who witnesses similar tragedies.

Senate Bill 913, “AN ACT EXPANDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES” passed the state Senate today on a unanimous and bipartisan 36-0 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill had previously passed the Labor Committee on a 10-1 vote and the Appropriations Committee on a 53-0 vote.

“This bill is intended to bring a sense of relief to those who have experienced trauma on the job,” said Sen. Hochadel. “Witnessing tragic events while also bearing the responsibility to continue carrying out one’s work can bring upon distress and linger for long periods of time. It is only right to ensure we keep those impacted workers secure financially when they stop working. I am proud to support legislation as it will assist in supporting those when they need it the most.”

Current state law generally limits eligibility for PTSI benefits to certain first responders (e.g., police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and emergency 9-1-1 dispatchers) who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) as a direct result of certain qualifying events (e.g., witnessing someone’s death) that may occur in the line of duty.

Under S.B. 913 — if it is approved by the House and signed into law by Governor Lamont — beginning on January 1, 2024, eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for PTSI will cover any employee in Connecticut who is already covered by the workers’ compensation law; the workers’ compensation system in Connecticut covers nearly all employees despite their occupation, business size, employment duration, or the number of hours worked per day.

Under S.B. 913, all employees in Connecticut would be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if a mental health professional examines them and diagnoses PTSI as a direct result of an event that occurs in their course of employment in which they: view a deceased minor; witness (a) someone’s death or an incident involving someone’s death, (b) an injury to someone who then dies before or upon admission to a hospital as a result of the injury, or (c) a traumatic physical injury that results in the loss of a vital body part or a vital body function that results in the victim’s permanent disfigurement; or carry, or have physical contact with and treat, an injured person who then dies before or upon admission to a hospital.