Nebraska seeks to further define first-responder mental injuries

Nebraska lawmakers will consider amending the state’s workers compensation law to include mental injuries for first responders who experience workplace violence.

Legislative Bill 5, introduced Thursday, defines a personal injury to include mental injuries and illness “unaccompanied by physical injury for an employee” if the employee can prove through medical evidence a connection between the mental injury or illness and an act of violence.

The bill describes workplace violence as “a shooting, hostage situation, act of terrorism, or similar act of violence occurring in the workplace.”