HB274 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phillip PettusRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fund established to provide PTSD health costs for first responders, Dept of Labor authorized to regulate

Summary

HB274 would create a PTSD benefits fund for first responders and allow the Dept of Labor to regulate it, expanding PTSD-related health costs and leave benefits for paid and volunteer responders while noting local-funding implications.

What This Bill Does

It adds work-related PTSD as a compensable condition for certain first responders, with benefits including reimbursement of out-of-pocket treatment costs, paid time off for treatment, and disability if PTSD prevents work. It extends similar benefits to volunteer first responders through a fund established by the Alabama League of Municipalities, regulated by the Department of Labor. It sets up a premium and eligibility system funded by employers (and optionally by volunteers), with rules on how benefits are paid and how return to work is handled. It notes that implementing these benefits could require new or increased local funding, triggering a 2/3 vote requirement unless local approval or state funding is provided.

Who It Affects

• Paid first responders (career firefighters and law enforcement officers) and their employing entities, who would be eligible for PTSD-related reimbursements, paid treatment leave, and potential disability benefits if PTSD prevents work.
• Volunteer first responders (certified and non-certified) and their fire departments, who would be eligible for PTSD-related benefits through the new fund, with premiums and eligibility rules; disability benefits would not apply to volunteers.

Key Provisions

• Recognizes work-related PTSD for first responders and provides benefits such as reimbursement of out-of-pocket treatment costs, paid time off for treatment, and limited disability if PTSD prevents work.
• Extends benefits to volunteer first responders through a fund administered by the Alabama League of Municipalities and regulated by the Secretary of the Department of Labor.
• Defines eligible participants and events, requires diagnosis by an authorized treating physician, and requires participation in peer support debriefing;
• Sets a lifetime limit of $15,000 for co-payment/deductible reimbursements, 80 hours of paid leave per claim for full-time employees, and disability payments of $3,000 per month for up to 12 months with a $36,000 lifetime cap (volunteers are not eligible for disability).
• Employers must pay annual premiums for eligible participants; volunteers may opt to pay premiums; premiums are nonrefundable; the primary employer is responsible when participants work for multiple eligible employers.
• Benefits and premiums are exempt from state income tax treatment; PTSD from events before the act's effective date is excluded from eligibility.
• The bill would require new or increased local expenditures, subject to the 2/3 vote requirement of Amendment 621 unless the local entity approves or the Legislature provides funding.
• Effective date is January 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

First Responders