Bill > S2450

Introduced Session

This bill would temporarily establish a Pandemic PTSD Task Force in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the task force will be to: 1) evaluate the prevalence and likelihood of, and develop best practices for the identification and treatment of, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers who have engaged in the provision of health care services, emergency response services, or other essential or key public services during a pandemic; and 2) recommend the implementation and use of appropriate treatments and supports to mitigate, eliminate, and otherwise reduce the effects of pandemic PTSD on these workers. The task force will be composed of 21 members and will have the duty to: 1) identify and evaluate the causes of, the factors that contribute to, and the mental and physical effects of, pandemic PTSD in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers; 2) estimate the current prevalence of pandemic PTSD among these workers, as well as the likelihood of future cases; 3) develop best practices for the identification and treatment of pandemic PTSD; 4) identify and approve new, alternative, and innovative means and methods of diagnosing and treating pandemic PTSD; and 5) identify policies, practices, services, resources, and funding sources that can be used to: enhance the ability of health care and mental health care professionals to identify, diagnose the severity of, and appropriately treat, pandemic PTSD and its side effects in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers; facilitate the Statewide implementation and use of the best practices and diagnostic and treatment methods identified by the task force; enhance the ability of employers to identify and provide appropriate assistance to employees who may be suffering from pandemic PTSD; facilitate the cooperative and integrated provision of physical and behavioral health care in association with the treatment of pandemic PTSD and associated injuries, illnesses, or side effects in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers; increase the type and availability of community supports that are available to help first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers successfully cope with and overcome pandemic PTSD; increase public awareness of pandemic PTSD; improve the accessibility of care and treatment for pandemic PTSD; enhance the ability of first responders, health care professionals, other frontline workers, and their families to recognize symptoms of pandemic PTSD, identify the need for treatment, and seek out appropriate treatment when needed; remove any professional or other stigma associated with the receipt of treatment for pandemic PTSD; and otherwise enable the State to promptly address and mitigate the effects of pandemic PTSD on the community. Not later than 12 months after its organizational meeting, the task force will be required to prepare and submit, to the Governor and the Legislature, a written report of its findings and recommendations in relation to the issues under its purview. A copy of the report will also be posted on the Internet websites of the Departments of Law and Public Safety, Human Services, and Health. The report would be required to include: 1) the task force's findings regarding the causes, effects, and factors contributing to pandemic PTSD and the prevalence and likelihood of future occurrence of pandemic PTSD among first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers in the State; 2) a description of the best practices that have been developed and the new, alternative, and innovative diagnostic and treatment methods that have been approved by the task force pursuant to the bill's provisions, together with data and other appropriate evidence to support the adoption of each best practice and the approval of each diagnostic and treatment method; and 3) recommendations for legislative, executive, or other actions that can be undertaken to effectuate the goals described in the bill. The task force will dissolve, and the bill will expire, on the 30th day following the submission of the task force's report.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Tony Bucco (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 02/05/2024)

Official Document