Last January, Fishel Hass reported on Senate Bill 252. In December of 2013, SB 252 was introduced in the Ohio Senate to exempt police and fire employees from the effects of a Supreme Court decision that held that psychiatric conditions, without an accompanying physical injury or occupational disease, are not compensable under workers’ compensation. Armstrong v. John R. Jurgensen Co., 136 Ohio St.3d 58 (2013). The purpose of the bill was “To amend [the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Act] to make peace officers and firefighters diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder arising from employment without an accompanying physical injury eligible for compensation and benefits under Ohio’s Workers’ Compensation Law.” That bill died in chamber in June of 2014.
On February 2, 2015, Senate Bill 5 was introduced, which also proposes that peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical workers who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would be eligible to receive workers’ compensation and benefits under certain circumstances regardless of whether a physical injury accompanies the (PTSD).
If passed, this bill would create a category of workers’ compensation for police officer and firefighters that does not exist for all other workers in Ohio.
If you have any questions regarding SB 5, or any other workers’ compensation matters, please contact David Riepenhoff at driepenhoff@fishelhass.com.
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