Honorable Angie Chen Button, Chair, House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB673 by Thompson (Relating to the eligibility of certain first responders for workers' compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder.), As Introduced
There could be an indeterminate cost to the state based on the number of claims made by agencies who employ first responders, as defined by the bill.
The bill would amend the Texas Labor Code, adding Sections 501.030, 502.026, 503.026, and 505.014, which would make Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) a compensable injury for certain state employees. The State Office of Risk Management (SORM) is funded through the allocation program to finance state workers' compensation program and risk management costs. A state agency that employs first responders may incur an increase in the annual assessment charged to the agency if additional workers' compensation claims authorized by the bill result in increased workers' compensation benefits paid by SORM.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies:
454 Department of Insurance, 479 State Office of Risk Management, 576 Texas A&M Forest Service, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices