Governor Wants PTSD Presumption Narrowed to First Responders

Friday, March 31, 2017 | 0

The House Commerce and Economic Development Committee is considering Gov. Phil Scott’s request that it narrow a bill to make only first responders eligible for workers’ compensation over mental injuries.

H.197 currently would make mental health disorders sustained on the job compensable for all workers, VTDigger.org reported Wednesday.

“The Department of Labor has concerns over cost and implementation,” Scott told reporters at a press conference. “I’m extremely sensitive to this with our firefighters, first responders, and I see a need. I’d like to see it narrowed so it’s not too broad, and it sounds as though they’re narrowing those efforts in the House at this point in time, so we’ll work through the process. I’m not necessarily opposed to it.”

Vermont law already presumes that first responders are covered under workers’ compensation for heart attacks, cancers and illnesses triggered by bloodborne pathogens, VTDigger.com reported.