HB323 Alabama 2023 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 first responders who suffer from work-related PTSD, including reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket treatment expenses and paid time off for employed first responders for treatment. It would provide eligibility requirements for participants to receive the benefits

This bill would authorize a fund to disburse the benefits, to be established by the Alabama League of Municipalities and regulated by the Secretary of the Department of Labor

This bill would also exempt paid benefits from state income tax liability

Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022 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 HB323 INTRODUCED 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 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 first responders suffering from work-related post-traumatic stress disorder; to make a certain leave benefit available to employed first responders; to authorize the Secretary of the Department of Labor to regulate a fund established by the Alabama League of Municipalities to provide the benefits payable to first responders; to exempt benefit payments from the fund from state income tax; and to have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.