Bill > HB2414

This bill modifies the workers' compensation system to expand eligibility for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) benefits for first responders. The bill broadens the definition of first responders to include those employed by the state, political subdivisions, and certain higher education institutions, specifically peace officers, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters. It establishes a presumption that PTSD suffered by these first responders is a compensable work-related injury, shifting the burden of proof to the insurance carrier to demonstrate that the disorder was caused by events outside the course of employment. The bill requires that PTSD be diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and defines the date of injury as the date the first responder first recognized the potential work-related nature of their condition. Additionally, the bill provides guidelines for insurance carriers investigating such claims, including requirements for notification and investigation procedures. The changes will apply only to claims for compensable injuries occurring on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, ensuring that existing claims are governed by previous legal standards.

Labor and Employment

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2414