Florida Senate - 2022                                     SB 664
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       5-00715-22                                             2022664__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to posttraumatic stress disorder
    3         workers’ compensation for law enforcement,
    4         correctional, and correctional probation officers;
    5         amending s. 112.1815, F.S.; defining the term “first
    6         responder” for the purposes of including part-time and
    7         auxiliary law enforcement officers for workers’
    8         compensation benefits for posttraumatic stress
    9         disorder and for educational training related to
   10         mental health; creating ss. 112.18155 and 112.18156,
   11         F.S.; defining terms; providing that, under certain
   12         circumstances, posttraumatic stress disorder suffered
   13         by correctional officers and part-time correctional
   14         officers and by correctional probation officers and
   15         part-time correctional probation officers,
   16         respectively, is an occupational disease compensable
   17         by workers’ compensation benefits; specifying the
   18         evidentiary standard for demonstrating such disorder;
   19         specifying that benefits do not require a physical
   20         injury and are not subject to certain apportionment or
   21         limitations; providing a time for notice of injury or
   22         death; requiring the Department of Financial Services
   23         to adopt certain rules; requiring an employing agency
   24         to provide specified mental health training; amending
   25         ss. 111.09, 119.071, and 627.659, F.S.; revising
   26         cross-references; providing a declaration of important
   27         state interest; providing an effective date.
   28          
   29  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         Section 1. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 112.1815,
   32  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   33         112.1815 Firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical
   34  technicians, and law enforcement officers; special provisions
   35  for employment-related accidents and injuries and posttraumatic
   36  stress disorder.—
   37         (5)(a) For the purposes of this section and chapter 440,
   38  and notwithstanding sub-subparagraph (2)(a)3. and ss. 440.093
   39  and 440.151(2), posttraumatic stress disorder, as described in
   40  the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth
   41  Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association,
   42  suffered by a first responder is a compensable occupational
   43  disease within the meaning of subsection (4) and s. 440.151 if:
   44         1. The posttraumatic stress disorder resulted from the
   45  first responder acting within the course of his or her
   46  employment as provided in s. 440.091; and
   47         2. The first responder is examined and subsequently
   48  diagnosed with such disorder by a licensed psychiatrist who is
   49  an authorized treating physician as provided in chapter 440 due
   50  to one of the following events:
   51         a. Seeing for oneself a deceased minor;
   52         b. Directly witnessing the death of a minor;
   53         c. Directly witnessing an injury to a minor who
   54  subsequently died before or upon arrival at a hospital emergency
   55  department;
   56         d. Participating in the physical treatment of an injured
   57  minor who subsequently died before or upon arrival at a hospital
   58  emergency department;
   59         e. Manually transporting an injured minor who subsequently
   60  died before or upon arrival at a hospital emergency department;
   61         f. Seeing for oneself a decedent whose death involved
   62  grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience;
   63         g. Directly witnessing a death, including suicide, that
   64  involved grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the
   65  conscience;
   66         h. Directly witnessing a homicide regardless of whether the
   67  homicide was criminal or excusable, including murder, mass
   68  killing as defined in 28 U.S.C. s. 530C, manslaughter, self
   69  defense, misadventure, and negligence;
   70         i. Directly witnessing an injury, including an attempted
   71  suicide, to a person who subsequently died before or upon
   72  arrival at a hospital emergency department if the person was
   73  injured by grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the
   74  conscience;
   75         j. Participating in the physical treatment of an injury,
   76  including an attempted suicide, to a person who subsequently
   77  died before or upon arrival at a hospital emergency department
   78  if the person was injured by grievous bodily harm of a nature
   79  that shocks the conscience; or
   80         k. Manually transporting a person who was injured,
   81  including by attempted suicide, and subsequently died before or
   82  upon arrival at a hospital emergency department if the person
   83  was injured by grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the
   84  conscience.
   85         (b) Such disorder must be demonstrated by clear and
   86  convincing medical evidence.
   87         (c) Benefits for a first responder under this subsection:
   88         1. Do not require a physical injury to the first responder;
   89  and
   90         2. Are not subject to:
   91         a. Apportionment due to a preexisting posttraumatic stress
   92  disorder;
   93         b. Any limitation on temporary benefits under s. 440.093;
   94  or
   95         c. The 1-percent limitation on permanent psychiatric
   96  impairment benefits under s. 440.15(3).
   97         (d) The time for notice of injury or death in cases of
   98  compensable posttraumatic stress disorder under this subsection
   99  is the same as in s. 440.151(6) and is measured from one of the
  100  qualifying events listed in subparagraph (a)2. or the
  101  manifestation of the disorder, whichever is later. A claim under
  102  this subsection must be properly noticed within 52 weeks after
  103  the qualifying event.
  104         (e) As used in this subsection, the term:
  105         1. “Directly witnessing” means to see or hear for oneself.
  106         2. “First responder” also includes a part-time law
  107  enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(6) and an auxiliary
  108  law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(8).
  109         3. “Manually transporting” means to perform physical labor
  110  to move the body of a wounded person for his or her safety or
  111  medical treatment.
  112         4.3. “Minor” has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(13).
  113         (f) The Department of Financial Services shall adopt rules
  114  specifying injuries qualifying as grievous bodily harm of a
  115  nature that shocks the conscience for the purposes of this
  116  subsection.
  117         (6) An employing agency of a first responder, including
  118  volunteer first responders, must provide educational training
  119  related to mental health awareness, prevention, mitigation, and
  120  treatment. As used in this subsection, the term “first
  121  responder” also includes a part-time law enforcement officer as
  122  defined in s. 943.10(6) and an auxiliary law enforcement officer
  123  as defined in s. 943.10(8).
  124         Section 2. Section 112.18155, Florida Statutes, is created
  125  to read:
  126         112.18155Correctional officers and part-time correctional
  127  officers; special provisions for posttraumatic stress disorder.—
  128         (1)As used in this section, the term:
  129         (a)“Correctional officer” has the same meaning as in s.
  130  943.10(2).
  131         (b)“Directly witnessing” has the same meaning as in s.
  132  112.1815(5)(e).
  133         (c)“Manually transporting” has the same meaning as in s.
  134  112.1815(5)(e).
  135         (d)“Mass killing” means three or more killings in a single
  136  incident.
  137         (e)“Part-time correctional officer” has the same meaning
  138  as in s. 943.10(7).
  139         (2)For purposes of this section and chapter 440, and
  140  notwithstanding ss. 440.093 and 440.151(2), posttraumatic stress
  141  disorder, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
  142  of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American
  143  Psychiatric Association, suffered by a correctional officer or
  144  part-time correctional officer is a compensable occupational
  145  disease within the meaning of s. 440.151 if:
  146         (a)The posttraumatic stress disorder resulted from the
  147  correctional officer or part-time correctional officer acting
  148  within the course of his or her employment.
  149         (b)The correctional officer or part-time correctional
  150  officer is:
  151         1.Examined by a licensed psychiatrist who is an authorized
  152  treating physician as provided in chapter 440.
  153         2.Diagnosed by the psychiatrist described in subparagraph
  154  1. as suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder due to one of
  155  the following events:
  156         a.Breaking up a fight between inmates or trying to stop a
  157  murder or suicide attempt committed by an inmate.
  158         b.Being seriously injured, bitten, or beaten by an inmate.
  159         c.Receiving a threat to himself or herself or to a loved
  160  one which is made by an inmate or a person known to an inmate.
  161         d.Being taken hostage by an inmate or trapped in a life
  162  threatening situation as a result of an inmate’s act.
  163         e.Making a life-threatening mistake related to an inmate
  164  or another correctional officer or part-time correctional
  165  officer.
  166         f.Not preventing, or not being able to prevent, a life
  167  threatening situation involving an inmate or another
  168  correctional officer or part-time correctional officer from
  169  happening.
  170         g.Killing or seriously injuring an inmate or another
  171  correctional officer or part-time correctional officer.
  172         h.Directly witnessing an injury, including an injury
  173  caused by a suicide attempt, to an inmate or another
  174  correctional officer or part-time correctional officer who
  175  subsequently died before or upon arrival at a hospital emergency
  176  department or was injured by grievous bodily harm of a nature
  177  that shocks the conscience.
  178         i.Participating in the physical treatment of an injury,
  179  including an injury caused by a suicide attempt, to an inmate or
  180  another correctional officer or part-time correctional officer
  181  who subsequently died before or upon arrival at a hospital
  182  emergency department or was injured by grievous bodily harm of a
  183  nature that shocks the conscience.
  184         j.Manually transporting an inmate or another correctional
  185  officer or part-time correctional officer who was injured,
  186  including by a suicide attempt, by grievous bodily harm of a
  187  nature that shocks the conscience or who subsequently died
  188  before or upon arrival at a hospital emergency department.
  189         k.Directly witnessing a death, including a death by
  190  suicide, of an inmate or another correctional officer or part
  191  time correctional officer which involved grievous bodily harm of
  192  a nature that shocks the conscience.
  193         l.Directly witnessing a homicide committed by an inmate or
  194  another correctional officer or part-time correctional officer,
  195  regardless of whether the homicide was criminal or excusable,
  196  including murder, mass killing, manslaughter, self-defense,
  197  misadventure, and negligence.
  198         m.Seeing for oneself a decedent whose death involved
  199  grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience.
  200         n.Cleaning up an inmate’s cell or other areas of a
  201  correctional institution after an injury or a death, including
  202  an injury by a suicide attempt or a death by suicide.
  203         o.Encountering an inmate who was recently sexually
  204  assaulted.
  205         (3)The posttraumatic stress disorder must be demonstrated
  206  by clear and convincing medical evidence.
  207         (4)Benefits for a correctional officer or part-time
  208  correctional officer under this section:
  209         (a)Do not require a physical injury to the correctional
  210  officer or part-time correctional officer.
  211         (b)Are not subject to any of the following:
  212         1.Apportionment due to a preexisting posttraumatic stress
  213  disorder.
  214         2.Any limitation on temporary benefits under s. 440.093.
  215         3.The 1-percent limitation on permanent psychiatric
  216  impairment benefits under s. 440.15(3).
  217         (5)The time for notice of injury or death in cases of
  218  compensable posttraumatic stress disorder under this section is
  219  the same as in s. 440.151(6) and is measured from one of the
  220  qualifying events listed in paragraph (2)(b) or the
  221  manifestation of the disorder, whichever is later. A claim under
  222  this section must be properly noticed within 52 weeks after the
  223  qualifying event.
  224         (6)The Department of Financial Services shall adopt rules
  225  specifying injuries qualifying as grievous bodily harm of a
  226  nature that shocks the conscience for the purposes of this
  227  section.
  228         (7)An employing agency of a correctional officer or part
  229  time correctional officer must provide educational training
  230  related to mental health awareness, prevention, mitigation, and
  231  treatment.
  232         Section 3. Section 112.18156, Florida Statutes, is created
  233  to read:
  234         112.18156Correctional probation officers and part-time
  235  correctional probation officers; special provisions for
  236  posttraumatic stress disorder.—
  237         (1)As used in this section, the term:
  238         (a)“Correctional probation officer” has the same meaning
  239  as in s. 943.10(3).
  240         (b)“Directly witnessing” has the same meaning as in s.
  241  112.1815(5)(e).
  242         (c)“Manually transporting” has the same meaning as in s.
  243  112.1815(5)(e).
  244         (d)“Mass killing” means three or more killings in a single
  245  incident.
  246         (e)“Part-time correctional probation officer” has the same
  247  meaning as in s. 943.10(19).
  248         (f)“Probationer” means a person assigned to a correctional
  249  probation officer or part-time correctional probation officer
  250  for supervised custody, surveillance, and control. The term
  251  includes, but is not limited to, an inmate, a parolee, and a
  252  community controllee.
  253         (g)“Probationer-related activity” means an unlawful act or
  254  activity that a probationer or a person known to a probationer
  255  engages in.
  256         (2)For purposes of this section and chapter 440, and
  257  notwithstanding ss. 440.093 and 440.151(2), posttraumatic stress
  258  disorder, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
  259  of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American
  260  Psychiatric Association, suffered by a correctional probation
  261  officer or part-time correctional probation officer is a
  262  compensable occupational disease within the meaning of s.
  263  440.151 if:
  264         (a)The posttraumatic stress disorder resulted from the
  265  correctional probation officer or part-time correctional
  266  probation officer acting within the course of his or her
  267  employment.
  268         (b)The correctional probation officer or part-time
  269  correctional probation officer is:
  270         1.Examined by a licensed psychiatrist who is an authorized
  271  treating physician as provided in chapter 440.
  272         2.Diagnosed by the psychiatrist described in subparagraph
  273  1. as suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder due to one of
  274  the following events:
  275         a.Being seriously injured or beaten by a probationer or by
  276  a person known to a probationer or involved in a probationer
  277  related activity.
  278         b.Receiving a threat to himself or herself or to a loved
  279  one which is made by a probationer or a person known to a
  280  probationer or involved in a probationer-related activity.
  281         c.Being taken hostage by a probationer or a person known
  282  to a probationer or involved in a probationer-related activity.
  283         d.Being trapped in a life-threatening situation as the
  284  result of a probationer-related activity.
  285         e.Making a life-threatening mistake related to a
  286  probationer or another person when trying to stop a probationer
  287  related activity.
  288         f.Not preventing, or not being able to prevent, a life
  289  threatening situation involving a probationer from happening.
  290         g.Killing or seriously injuring a probationer or another
  291  person as a result of an intervention in a probationer-related
  292  activity.
  293         h.Directly witnessing an injury, including an injury
  294  caused by a suicide attempt, to a probationer, or an injury
  295  caused to another person in a probationer-related activity, and
  296  the probationer or person subsequently died before or upon
  297  arrival at a hospital emergency department or was injured by
  298  grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience.
  299         i.Participating in the physical treatment of an injury,
  300  including by a suicide attempt, to a probationer, or an injury
  301  to another person in a probationer-related activity, and the
  302  probationer or person subsequently died before or upon arrival
  303  at a hospital emergency department or was injured by grievous
  304  bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience.
  305         j.Manually transporting a probationer who was injured,
  306  including by a suicide attempt, or another person who was
  307  injured in a probationer-related activity, and:
  308         (I)The injury was by grievous bodily harm of a nature that
  309  shocks the conscience; or
  310         (II)The probationer or other person subsequently died
  311  before or upon arrival at a hospital emergency department.
  312         k.Directly witnessing a death, including a death by
  313  suicide, of a probationer or a death of another person in a
  314  probationer-related activity which involved grievous bodily harm
  315  of a nature that shocks the conscience.
  316         l.Directly witnessing a homicide committed by or against a
  317  probationer, regardless of whether the homicide was criminal or
  318  excusable, including murder, mass killing, manslaughter, self
  319  defense, misadventure, and negligence.
  320         m.Being assigned excessively high caseloads or high
  321  special caseloads, such as caseloads of probationers who
  322  recidivate or commit violent crimes.
  323         (3)The posttraumatic stress disorder must be demonstrated
  324  by clear and convincing medical evidence.
  325         (4)Benefits for a correctional probation officer or part
  326  time correctional probation officer under this section:
  327         (a)Do not require a physical injury to the correctional
  328  probation officer or part-time correctional probation officer.
  329         (b)Are not subject to any of the following:
  330         1.Apportionment due to a preexisting posttraumatic stress
  331  disorder.
  332         2.Any limitation on temporary benefits under s. 440.093.
  333         3.The 1-percent limitation on permanent psychiatric
  334  impairment benefits under s. 440.15(3).
  335         (5)The time for notice of injury or death in cases of
  336  compensable posttraumatic stress disorder under this section is
  337  the same as in s. 440.151(6) and is measured from one of the
  338  qualifying events listed in paragraph (2)(b) or the
  339  manifestation of the disorder, whichever is later. A claim under
  340  this section must be properly noticed within 52 weeks after the
  341  qualifying event.
  342         (6)The Department of Financial Services shall adopt rules
  343  specifying injuries qualifying as grievous bodily harm of a
  344  nature that shocks the conscience for the purposes of this
  345  section.
  346         (7)An employing agency of a correctional probation officer
  347  or part-time correctional probation officer must provide
  348  educational training related to mental health awareness,
  349  prevention, mitigation, and treatment.
  350         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  351  111.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  352         111.09 Peer support for first responders.—
  353         (1) For purposes of this section, the term:
  354         (a) “First responder” has the same meaning as provided in
  355  s. 112.1815(1) s. 112.1815 and includes 911 public safety
  356  telecommunicators as defined in s. 401.465.
  357         Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
  358  119.071, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  359         119.071 General exemptions from inspection or copying of
  360  public records.—
  361         (3) SECURITY AND FIRESAFETY.—
  362         (d)1. Information relating to the Nationwide Public Safety
  363  Broadband Network established pursuant to 47 U.S.C. ss. 1401 et
  364  seq., held by an agency is confidential and exempt from s.
  365  119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution if
  366  release of such information would reveal:
  367         a. The design, development, construction, deployment, and
  368  operation of network facilities;
  369         b. Network coverage, including geographical maps indicating
  370  actual or proposed locations of network infrastructure or
  371  facilities;
  372         c. The features, functions, and capabilities of network
  373  infrastructure and facilities;
  374         d. The features, functions, and capabilities of network
  375  services provided to first responders, as defined in s.
  376  112.1815(1) s. 112.1815, and other network users;
  377         e. The design, features, functions, and capabilities of
  378  network devices provided to first responders and other network
  379  users; or
  380         f. Security, including cybersecurity, of the design,
  381  construction, and operation of the network and associated
  382  services and products.
  383         2. This paragraph is subject to the Open Government Sunset
  384  Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed
  385  on October 2, 2023, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
  386  through reenactment by the Legislature.
  387         Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 627.659, Florida
  388  Statutes, is amended to read:
  389         627.659 Blanket health insurance; eligible groups.—Blanket
  390  health insurance is that form of health insurance which covers
  391  special groups of individuals as enumerated in one of the
  392  following subsections:
  393         (4) Under a policy or contract issued in the name of a
  394  volunteer fire department, first aid group, local emergency
  395  management agency as defined in s. 252.34(6), or other group of
  396  first responders as defined in s. 112.1815(1) s. 112.1815, which
  397  is deemed the policyholder, covering all or any grouping of the
  398  members or employees of the policyholder or covering all or any
  399  participants in an activity or operation sponsored or supervised
  400  by the policyholder.
  401         Section 7. The Legislature determines and declares that
  402  this act fulfills an important state interest.
  403         Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.