House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

Posted:	June 23, 2021 10:05 AM
From:	Representative Francis X. Ryan
To:	All House members
Subject:	Workers' Compensation for First Responders with PTSI (Prior HB432)

I will be introducing legislation that will expand post-traumatic stress injury benefits for first responders in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This was HB432 last Session. Senators Bartolotta and Regan are current sponsors of the companion piece in the Senate (SB775). Under the legislation, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics would be entitled to benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law for psychological injuries arising from their employment, or after four years or more of service, regardless of whether the injury is accompanied by physical injuries requiring medical treatment. First responders witness people and their families as they experience the worst moments of their lives and this can trigger mental health problems. Other times, work-related psychological conditions result from cumulative exposure to trauma. Post-traumatic injuries cause real harm that we need to recognize and we need to use the workers’ compensation system to assist our first responders in addressing that trauma. If you believe that we have a duty to protect those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us, please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.
View Attachment

Introduced as HB1732