HB536 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ontario J. TillmanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Law enforcement officers; to establish a PTSD treatment program under the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency

Summary

HB536 would create a statewide PTSD treatment program for Alabama law enforcement and require employers to cover treatment costs, travel, and paid leave for officers with PTSD.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to establish a PTSD education and resource program in cooperation with local agencies and to maintain resources and a roster of qualified treating physicians. It also requires employers to review health plans for PTSD coverage, use ALEA resources, and provide benefits such as cost-sharing for PTSD treatment, mileage reimbursement for treatment travel, and up to 80 additional hours of paid PTSD leave. Eligible officers must experience a qualifying PTSD event within the last 12 months, undergo treatment with a qualified physician, and participate in peer support debriefings; copay, coinsurance, and deductible reimbursements have a $15,000 lifetime cap, and travel must meet specific distance and location criteria. The program is not retroactive to events before October 1, 2025, and the act takes effect October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement officers employed by state, county, or municipal agencies who may access education, treatment resources, and the described financial and leave benefits for PTSD.
• Employers including state departments/agencies, counties, and municipalities that employ officers and must implement the program, review health plans for PTSD coverage, and provide the specified benefits.

Key Provisions

• ALEA must establish a PTSD education and resource program and coordinate with local agencies; create a roster of qualifying treating physicians and designate a liaison for PTSD resources.
• Employers must review health insurance for Mental Health Parity compliance and provide the PTSD benefits developed under the act; use ALEA resources for education and outreach.
• Benefits for officers include: (a) up to $15,000 lifetime reimbursement of copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for PTSD treatment; (b) mileage reimbursement for treatment travel at IRS medical travel rates, with criteria (25 miles one-way, within Alabama); (c) up to 80 additional paid work hours for PTSD treatment, with pay and non-disciplinary terms.
• Eligibility requires a qualifying PTSD event in the previous 12 months, written agreement that the employer is not liable under certain state law, participation in peer support debriefings, and physician certification that PTSD is diagnosed and treatment is medically necessary.
• If an officer has more than one employer, the primary employer is responsible for benefits; if transferring, the new employer isn’t required to pay premiums until the current year’s coverage with the previous employer ends.
• Benefits do not apply to PTSD from events occurring before October 1, 2025; the act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Mental Health