Virginia Senate Bill SB289

Virginia 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22
• Report Pass: 1/24/22
• Report Pass: 2/2/22
• Engrossed: 2/4/22
• Refer: 2/21/22

Caption

Workers' compensation; anxiety disorder or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement, etc.

Impact

The enactment of SB289 will have a significant impact on state law by formally recognizing PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorders as compensable injuries under workers' compensation for first responders. This marks a pivotal shift in how mental health is treated within occupational frameworks, ensuring that officers and firefighters have access to necessary mental health services and compensation for incurred mental health issues related to their service. It highlights the increasing acknowledgment of the mental health challenges faced by individuals in these demanding roles.

Summary

SB289 seeks to amend the Code of Virginia to expand compensation benefits for law-enforcement officers and firefighters suffering from mental health disorders, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder. The bill stipulates that these conditions are compensable if they are a result of a qualifying event occurring in the line of duty after July 1, 2020. This aligns with a broader recognition of mental health as a critical component of occupational health and safety within high-stress professions such as law enforcement and firefighting.

Contention

While SB289 has garnered support because it addresses the critical need for mental health support in law enforcement and emergency response, there are concerns about the implications of such broad classifications for mental health compensation. Questions arise regarding the criteria for qualifying events and whether the outlined procedures for diagnosis and treatment adequately address the therapeutic needs of affected individuals. Furthermore, there is an ongoing debate about the administrative burden this bill may place on state resources and the potential increase in claims due to the expanded definitions of compensable conditions.