Bill Would Allow Corrections Officers to File Mental Comp Claims

Friday, May 21, 2021 | 0

Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday passed legislation that would allow correctional officers to seek workers' compensation for mental illnesses and revise rules concerning lump-sum comp settlements.

L.B. 407, which passed the Legislature unanimously, would modify state workers' compensation law to allow correctional officers to file claims for mental illnesses acquired on the job without an accompanying physical injury.

Currently, the law allows only first responders and frontline state employees to file a mental health workers' comp claim without a physical injury.

L.B. 256, which passed in a 32-3 vote, modifies the comp law to remove the requirement that the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court must approve a lump-sum settlement if the injured worker’s right to receive future medical, surgical and hospital services is specifically excluded from the settlement.

The bills will go to Gov. Pete Ricketts for his signature.

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