Rhode Island Senate Bill S1060

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/9/25
• Refer: 5/9/25
• Report Pass: 6/2/25
• Engrossed: 6/10/25
• Engrossed: 6/17/25
• Passed: 6/23/25

Caption

Clarifies several workers' compensation court authority for injuries to sworn employees (police/fire).

Impact

The provisions set out in S1060 will streamline processes for awarding disability benefits to state employees, especially those in law enforcement and emergency response roles. By establishing clear deadlines for applying for disability retirement benefits following injuries, this bill is intended to reduce ambiguity in current laws and facilitate prompt and appropriate support for affected employees. Importantly, it reaffirms the employers' obligations to cover medical costs and salaries during periods of incapacity due to injury sustained in the line of duty.

Summary

S1060 is a legislative act aimed at clarifying provisions regarding the workers' compensation system specifically for sworn employees, such as police officers and firefighters, in the state of Rhode Island. It amends existing definitions and provisions pertaining to workers' compensation to ensure that injured employees receive medical and disability benefits commensurate with their injuries and status. The bill particularly emphasizes the determination of maximum medical improvement (MMI) and delineates the process through which injured officers can apply for accident disability pension allowances.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding this bill emerge from its handling of PTSD among first responders. The bill presumes that officers and firefighters diagnosed with PTSD due to their duties have sustained an injury in the line of duty unless proven otherwise. This aspect has raised concerns among some legislators regarding the robustness of the evidence required to substantiate claims and the potential for misuse of these provisions. Additionally, the amendments to the timelines for applying for benefits may be contentious, as they impose strict deadlines that could disadvantage those unaware of the legal requirements.