Bill > SB1589

This bill amends three existing acts to include mental health professionals within the scope of benefits for public employees who are injured or killed in the line of duty. Specifically, the bill defines a "mental health professional" as any person employed and dispatched by a local government to respond to crisis calls on public emergency service lines, either instead of or alongside law enforcement. The amendments cover three key pieces of legislation: the Public Employee Disability Act, the Line of Duty Compensation Act, and the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Under these changes, mental health professionals will now be eligible for disability benefits if they are injured while performing their duties, receive compensation if killed in the line of duty, and potentially qualify for burial benefits. The bill ensures that these professionals receive similar protections and support as other first responders like law enforcement officers and firefighters, recognizing the potentially dangerous and high-stress nature of their work in crisis response situations.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1589&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104