HB323 Alabama 2023 Session

Sponsors

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

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.

Description

<p class="bill_description"> 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</p><p class="bill_description"> 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</p><p class="bill_description"> 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</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would also exempt paid benefits from state income tax liability</p><p class="bill_description"> 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</p><p class="bill_description"> 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</p><p class="bill_entitled_an_act"> 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. </p>

Subjects

First Responders, establish fund to pay benefits to first responders with work-related PTSD