Lawmakers in South Carolina are considering a bill that would amend its workers compensation laws to provide the requirements for a first responder to file a workers comp claim for a “stress or mental injury” that is not accompanied by a physical injury.
H.B. 4992, introduced Wednesday and referred to the Committee on Judiciary, states that a first responder must witness a “(s)ignificant traumatic experience or situation” to qualify for benefits, listing 11 types of incidents that one must have “see(n), hear(d), or smell(ed) for oneself,” most of which include death or grave bodily harm.
The bill defines a first responder as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician employed by state or local government. A volunteer law enforcement officer or firefighter engaged by state or local government would also be eligible.