BILL SUMMARY DETAILS

Florida League of Cities

First Responders and Crime Scene Investigators (Monitor) 

HB 993 (Holcomb) and SB 1490 (Burgess) expand the conditions in which first responders and certain personnel may receive posttraumatic stress benefits. The bills redefine the term “first responder” to include any full-time, part-time or volunteer law enforcement officer, firefighter, correctional officer, 911 public safety telecommunicator or federal law enforcement officer. The bills create a statutory framework for crime scene investigators to receive a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) evaluation and receive a diagnosis as a compensable occupational disease under specific circumstances. The bills also specify correctional officer PTSD evaluations may be conducted in person or through telehealth. The bills require an employing agency of a crime scene investigator to provide educational training related to mental health. (Cruz)