On Mar. 23, Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 6214 into law, allowing first responders to file for workers’ compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder. Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics will all be eligible to receive workers comp for PTSD acquired on the job.
Workers’ compensation claims for PTSD and other stress-related mental conditions are not allowed by state law. This bill excludes first responders with job-related PTSD from that ban.
SB 6214 was sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway, D-South Tacoma. “The military has recognized PTSD as a work-caused condition and is taking steps to address it,” Conway said.