Governor Signs Bill Creating First-Responder Mental Stress Task Force

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a bill that will create a task force to study the compensability of first responders’ workers' compensation claims due to mental stress. Herbert, a Republican, on Friday signed House Bill 154, by Rep. Karen Kwan, D-Murray, to create the Mental Health Protections for First Responders Workgroup. The task force will be charged with making recommendations on statutory requirements for compensability of mental stress claims as well as removing barriers to mental health treatment. Mental stress claims are compensable in Utah for a single traumatic event, but...