February 16, 2017      6:42 PM

Following police ambush in Dallas, Rep. Wray files legislation for PTSD coverage for first responders

Working to craft a policy that would allow first responders to apply for workers’ comp for PTSD treatment without putting their livelihoods at risk

In light of the sniper attack on Dallas police last year, Rep. John Wray, R-Waxahachie, filed legislation Thursday, House Bill 1983, that would provide workers compensation benefits to peace officers and firefighters for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Wray said officers and firefighters, as first responders, are often put in situations where they are first to see “scenes of devastating accidents and atrocious crimes.”

“Pause for a moment and consider the impact these experiences can have on police officers and firefighters. But being the first to respond is part of their jobs. It’s part of what we ask them to do,” Wray said at a news conference. “This was again highlighted for me as I heard details of the shootings in Dallas where police officers and firefighters witnessed the ambush and murder of their colleagues in blue.”

If the bill becomes law, officers and firefighters would be eligible for coverage if the disorder is caused by events occurring in their work. There would also need to be a large amount of evidence indicating their job duties were a substantial cause of the disorder.

By Eleanor Dearman

Copyright February 16, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved