South Carolina lawmakers to consider another PTSD bill

Lawmakers in South Carolina are now considering a fourth piece of legislation addressing post-traumatic stress disorder for first responders; three have already been pre-filed for the 2023 legislative season.

H.B. 3272, filed Thursday and sent to the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, provides requirements for a first responder to file a workers compensation claim for “a stress or mental injury unaccompanied by a physical injury.”

The bill, which is similar to that which was filed with the state Senate in late November, states that the first responder must witness a “(s)ignificant traumatic experience or situation” to qualify, and lists 11 instances that would apply, most of them involving death.