Senate Unanimously Passes Bills to Expand Cancer, Mental Health Coverage

The Virginia Senate unanimously passed bills that would expand the types of cancers presumed compensable for first responders and provide coverage for anxiety and depressive disorders. The Senate on Monday voted 39-0 to pass SB 904 and SB 906. SB 904, by Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, would require that anxiety and depressive disorders incurred by law enforcement officers and firefighters be covered on the same basis as claims for post-traumatic stress disorder. Lawmakers in 2020 passed a bill providing coverage for PTSD experienced by police and firefighters without requiring them to...