Fire Marshal Supports Proposed PTSD Presumption Legislation

Monday, December 11, 2017 | 0

State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who is also Florida’s fire marshal, is backing cancer and PTSD presumption legislation for first responders, WFLA-News Channel 8 reported.

Jimmy Patronis

Patronis told the station he supports measures that would award lost wages to first responders who develop mental injuries without accompanying physical ailments, commonly called “mental-mental” claims.

Current state law covers only medical benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder without physical injury.

“It’s a change that shows that we care most about those that give of themselves selflessly every time we dial 911,” Patronis told WFLA.

He has thrown his support behind two prefiled PTSD presumption bills ahead of the 2018 legislative session, which convenes Jan. 8.

One of those bills, the amended SB 376, unanimously passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday.

The fire marshal said he also supports legislation that would establish a presumption that certain types of cancer contracted by firefighters should be deemed work-related and compensable.