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HB 68

Workers' compensation; post-traumatic stress disorder incurred by dispatchers.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and 3 co-sponsors

Virginia bill expands workers' compensation to cover PTSD for emergency dispatchers exposed to traumatic calls during employment duties.

Left in Labor and Commerce
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Bill Summary · HB 68

Legislative bill overview

HB 68 would expand Virginia's workers' compensation coverage to explicitly include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) incurred by emergency dispatchers in the course of their employment. Currently, dispatchers may face barriers in claiming PTSD as a compensable work injury, unlike some other first responders. This bill aims to recognize the psychological toll of handling emergency calls and traumatic situations.

Why is this important

Emergency dispatchers experience repeated exposure to human suffering, violence, and death without the same legal protections afforded to police officers or firefighters in some jurisdictions. Expanding workers' compensation coverage could provide critical mental health support, medical treatment, and wage replacement for dispatchers experiencing PTSD, while potentially reducing barriers to care that stem from ambiguous legal status of psychological injuries.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Expanding workers' compensation coverage typically increases employer insurance premiums; the fiscal impact statement would clarify costs to public agencies and private dispatch centers
  • Causation and proof standards: Determining whether PTSD is directly caused by work versus pre-existing conditions or external factors could create disputes and litigation burdens
  • Scope creep concerns: Some may worry this precedent could lead to expanding mental health coverage claims across other occupational categories, increasing overall workers' compensation system costs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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