HB274 Alabama 2022 Session

Under existing workers' compensation law, an occupational disease is not considered to include a mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), unless a physical injury accompanies the mental illness.

This bill would require certain benefits be provided to paid first responders who suffer from work related PTSD, including reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket treatment expense, paid time off for treatment, and limited disability if a paid first responder is not able to work due to PTSD.

This bill would provide for certain benefits to be provided to volunteer first responders suffering from PTSD.

This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Department of Labor to regulate a fund established by the Alabama League of Municipalities to provide coverage for the benefits provided for in this bill.

This bill would also provide for eligibility requirements for participants to receive benefits from the fund.

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. If this bill is not enacted by a 2/3 vote, it will not become effective with regard to a local entity unless approved by the local entity or until, and only as long as, the Legislature appropriates funds or provides for a local source of revenue.

Relating to first responders; to require certain benefits be made available to certain paid first responders suffering from work-related post-traumatic stress disorder; to make certain benefits available to volunteer first responders; to authorize the Secretary of the Department of Labor to regulate a fund established by the Alabama League of Municipalities to provide benefits for first responders; to exempt payments from the fund for benefits from state income tax; and in connection therewith to have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.