Vermont bill would expand PTSD comp presumptions

Vermont lawmakers are proposing to expand workers compensation eligibility to additional classes of state employees diagnosed with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder.

Police officers, firefighters and ambulance workers are already covered under the state’s PTSD presumption. House Bill 297, filed Tuesday, would add corrections officers, employees of state-run therapeutic community residences or inpatient psychiatric hospitals, public safety workers, employees with the Family Services Division of the Department for Children and Families, Vermont Veterans’ Home workers, state attorneys and sheriffs.  

A number of other states have proposed legislation that would create a PTSD presumption for certain state workers, many of whom are employed in first-responder roles.