Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 774
       
       
        
       By Senator Pizzo
       
       
       
       
       
       37-01186-26                                            2026774__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to 911 public safety telecommunicator
    3         employment-related mental or nervous injuries;
    4         amending s. 112.1815, F.S.; defining the term “911
    5         public safety telecommunicator”; providing that
    6         specified provisions relating to certain medical
    7         benefits for mental or nervous injuries for first
    8         responders also apply to 911 public safety
    9         telecommunicators; providing construction; providing
   10         an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
   15  (2) of section 112.1815, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   16         112.1815 Firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical
   17  technicians, and law enforcement officers, and 911 public safety
   18  telecommunicators; special provisions for employment-related
   19  accidents and injuries.—
   20         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   21         (a) “911 public safety telecommunicator” has the same
   22  meaning as in s. 401.465(1).
   23         (b) “First responder” as used in this section means a law
   24  enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10, a firefighter as
   25  defined in s. 633.102, or an emergency medical technician or
   26  paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local
   27  government. A volunteer law enforcement officer, firefighter, or
   28  emergency medical technician or paramedic engaged by the state
   29  or a local government is also considered a first responder of
   30  the state or local government for purposes of this section.
   31         (2)(a) For the purpose of determining benefits under this
   32  section relating to employment-related accidents and injuries of
   33  first responders and 911 public safety telecommunicators, the
   34  following shall apply:
   35         1. An injury or disease caused by the exposure to a toxic
   36  substance is not an injury by accident arising out of employment
   37  unless there is a preponderance of the evidence establishing
   38  that exposure to the specific substance involved, at the levels
   39  to which the first responder was exposed, can cause the injury
   40  or disease sustained by the employee.
   41         2. Any adverse result or complication caused by a smallpox
   42  vaccination of a first responder is deemed to be an injury by
   43  accident arising out of work performed in the course and scope
   44  of employment.
   45         3. A mental or nervous injury involving a first responder
   46  or a 911 public safety telecommunicator and occurring as a
   47  manifestation of a compensable injury must be demonstrated by
   48  clear and convincing evidence. For a mental or nervous injury
   49  arising out of the employment unaccompanied by a physical injury
   50  involving a first responder or a 911 public safety
   51  telecommunicator, only medical benefits under s. 440.13 shall be
   52  payable for the mental or nervous injury. However, payment of
   53  indemnity as provided in s. 440.15 may not be made unless a
   54  physical injury arising out of injury as a first responder
   55  accompanies the mental or nervous injury. Benefits for a first
   56  responder are not subject to any limitation on temporary
   57  benefits under s. 440.093 or the 1-percent limitation on
   58  permanent psychiatric impairment benefits under s. 440.15(3)(c).
   59  Benefits for a 911 public safety telecommunicator are not
   60  subject to any limitation on temporary benefits under s.
   61  440.093.
   62         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.