Bill Text - SB28 (2025)

Relative to workers' compensation claims involving emergency responders with acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.


Revision: Jan. 7, 2025, 12:56 p.m.

SB 28  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2025 SESSION

25-0353

05/06

 

SENATE BILL 28

 

AN ACT relative to workers' compensation claims involving emergency responders with acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Rep. Soucy, Merr. 21; Rep. S. Pearson, Rock. 13

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill provides that "date of injury" for purposes of workers' compensation claims by emergency responders with acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder shall be determined in accordance with the statute governing date of injury for occupational disease or cumulative trauma.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0353

05/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT relative to workers' compensation claims involving emergency responders with acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Workers' Compensation; Acute Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Amend RSA 281-A:17-c to read as follows:

281-A:17-c Acute Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Presumption.  

I.  Notwithstanding RSA 281-A:2, XI and XIII, [RSA 281-A:16,] and RSA 281-A:27, there shall be a prima facie presumption that acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in an emergency responder, as defined in RSA 281-A:2, V-c are occupationally caused.

II.  For purposes of this section, the date of injury for acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in an emergency responder shall be subject to the provisions for determining date of injury for occupational disease or cumulative trauma under RSA 281-A:16.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.