BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 2143
86R34642 KKR-D	By: Turner, John et al. (Whitmire)
	Business & Commerce
	5/20/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

C.S.H.B. 2143 amends current law relating to the eligibility of a first responder for workers' compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.019, Labor Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:

 

(b) Provides that post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by a first responder is a compensable injury under this subtitle (Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage For Certain Government Employees) only if it is based on a diagnosis that:

 

(1) the disorder is caused by one or more events, rather than an event, occurring in the course and scope of the first responder�s employment; and

 

(2) the preponderance of the evidence indicates that:

 

(A) the event or events described by Subdivision (1) were a substantial contributing factor of the disorder; and

 

(B) if not for the event or events described by Subdivision (1), the disorder would not have occurred.

 

(c) Provides that, for purposes of this subtitle, the date of injury for post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by a first responder is the date on which the first responder first knew or should have known that the disorder may be related to the first responder�s employment.

 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.