PRINTER'S NO. 419
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
432
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, BIZZARRO, BOYLE, BURNS, COMITTA, DAVIDSON,
A. DAVIS, T. DAVIS, DEASY, DELLOSO, DeLUCA, DERMODY,
DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, DRISCOLL, ECKER, FARRY, FITZGERALD,
FRANKEL, GAINEY, GAYDOS, HARKINS, HARRIS, HILL-EVANS,
INNAMORATO, ISAACSON, KORTZ, KULIK, MADDEN, MARKOSEK,
MARSHALL, MATZIE, McNEILL, MERSKI, D. MILLER, MULLINS, MURT,
NEILSON, O'MARA, POLINCHOCK, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, RYAN,
SAINATO, SAPPEY, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, SNYDER, SOLOMON,
STAATS, WARREN, WHITE, SCHMITT, ZABEL, FLYNN, ULLMAN AND
TOEPEL, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), entitled "An
act defining the liability of an employer to pay damages for
injuries received by an employe in the course of employment;
establishing an elective schedule of compensation; providing
procedure for the determination of liability and compensation
thereunder; and prescribing penalties," in interpretation and
definitions, further providing for the definition of
"occupational disease"; and, in liability and compensation,
further providing for compensation for post-traumatic stress
injury.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 108 of the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736,
No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, is amended by
adding a clause to read:
Section 108. The term "occupational disease," as used in
this act, shall mean only the following diseases.
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* * *
(s) Post-traumatic stress injury, that is suffered by a
professional and volunteer firefighter, volunteer ambulance
corps personnel, volunteer rescue and lifesaving squad
personnel, emergency medical services personnel and paramedics,
a Pennsylvania State Police officer and a police officer
requiring certification under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 (relating to
employees), and caused by exposure to a traumatic event arising
in the course of the individual's employment or, after four
years or more of service, is caused by and related to the
cumulative effect of psychological stress in the course of the
individual's employment for the benefit and safety of the
public.
Section 2. Section 301 of the act is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
Section 301. * * *
(g) A post-traumatic stress injury suffered by a
professional and volunteer firefighter, volunteer ambulance
corps personnel, volunteer rescue and lifesaving squad
personnel, emergency medical services personnel and paramedics,
a Pennsylvania State Police officer and a police officer
requiring certification under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 (relating to
employees) shall be established by a preponderance of the
evidence that the injury was received while in the course of the
individual's employment.
Section 3. The addition of sections 108(s) and 301(g) of the
act shall apply to claims filed on or after the effective date
of this section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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