Arizona considers adding dispatchers to PTSD presumptions

Arizona lawmakers have pre-filed a bill that would expand the state’s post-traumatic stress disorder presumption to include dispatchers among those who would qualify.

H.B. 2492 would revise the state’s PTSD presumption bill to clarify who qualifies for benefits. It would replace the term “policemen” with “peace officers” and clarify that emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters and “public safety telecommunicators” qualify.

The bill also would expand the list of PTSD-qualifying events to include using deadly force, witnessing death of another public safety employee, and being exposed to “a psychologically traumatic event or series of psychologically traumatic events.”