Lawmakers considering expanding mental health comp

Oklahoma lawmakers are slated to consider a bill that would expand workers compensation coverage for mental injuries that are not accompanied by a physical injury, under certain circumstances.  

H.B. 3899, pre-filed for a Feb. 7 introduction, amends current law that states a mental injury or illness is not compensable in comp unless caused by a physical injury to the employee.

The bill would provide for mental injury compensability if the employee is a victim of a violent crime or is a police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or “any other employee of an emergency service who is likely to be among the first people to arrive at and assist at the scene of an emergency and who suffers a mental injury or illness related to duties performed responding to the emergency.”

If passed, the law would go into effect Nov. 1.