Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-127
Section 415 - [Effective 10/29/2025] Post-traumatic stress injuries suffered by first responders(1) A claim for a post-traumatic stress injury suffered by a first responder shall establish that the injury was the result of the individual undergoing a qualifying traumatic event and was sustained in the course and scope of the individual's employment as a first responder. A post-traumatic stress injury suffered by a first responder shall not be required to be the result of an abnormal working condition to be a compensable injury under this act.(2) Workers' compensation benefits for a post-traumatic stress injury suffered by an individual under paragraph (1) shall be available during the period of the post-traumatic stress injury, but not for a period of more than one hundred four weeks.(3) A post-traumatic stress injury suffered by an individual under paragraph (1) shall be based on assessment and diagnosis by a licensed Psychologist or Psychiatrist under the laws and regulations of this Commonwealth.(4) A claim for a post-traumatic stress injury must be filed no later than three years after the date of a diagnosis under paragraph (3) and the injury shall not have occurred more than five years before the effective date of this paragraph.(5) When a post-traumatic stress injury is diagnosed after the last date of employment, paragraph (1) shall not be construed to prohibit a claim against the employer of the claimant at the time of the exposure to the qualifying traumatic event which caused the injury.(6) For purposes of this subsection, a post-traumatic stress injury suffered as a result of A disciplinary action, job or performance evaluation, job transfers or employment termination, shall not be compensable.(7) All terms and conditions specified under this act and not specifically addressed under this subsection shall remain in full force and effect and shall apply to benefits provided under this subsection.Added by P.L. (number not assigned at time of publication) 2024 No. 121,§ 2, eff. 10/29/2025.