Bill > A01677

This bill modifies the workers' compensation law to expand and clarify provisions for mental injury claims related to extraordinary work-related stress, specifically focusing on first responders and emergency workers. The bill allows workers such as police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and emergency dispatchers to file claims for mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, or major depressive disorder, even if the stress is deemed not significantly greater than normal workplace stress. To qualify, employees must provide medical evidence using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and demonstrate that the mental health condition arose from a distinct, work-related event directly connected to their job duties. The bill explicitly excludes claims stemming from physical work-related injuries and sets the effective date as 180 days after the law is enacted. The legislation aims to provide broader recognition and support for mental health challenges faced by workers in high-stress, emergency-related professions by making it easier for them to file and receive workers' compensation for mental health conditions.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1677