Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday signed into law a measure that makes line-of-duty mental injuries compensable for first responders.
Beginning in 2025, S.B. 1457 will allow for workers compensation benefits for police officers, professional and volunteer firefighters, and emergency medical technicians diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder whose mental injury is connected to “responding to an emergency.”
The bill defines PTSD as that which is connected to witnessing or experiencing near-death or death or a threat to the “physical integrity of others” and that the response involved “fear, helplessness, or horror.” The bill also outlines what symptoms must be present, such as “recurrent and intrusive” thoughts about the event.
The new law limits medical treatment for PTSD to one year and states that for those who despite treatment are unable to perform duties, the law stipulates that the first responder would be eligible for disability benefits not to exceed $50,000.