Notice

First Responder PTSI Bill Signed by Governor Shapiro

On October 23, 2024, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 365, sponsored by Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington), by a vote of 201-1. The bill was signed by Governor Shapiro on October 29, 2024 making it Act 121 of 2024. 

Act 121 would provide a Workers' Compensation benefit for Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) for first responders. PSAB had opposed the bill for several legislative sessions due to concerns with the broad expense of the mandate. Working in conjunction with the municipal associations, PSAB was able to secure several important limitations in the bill which will curb municipal costs.  The Senate made many of these important changes that drastically improved the bill. SB 365 now includes:

• A list of direct exposures that qualify as a traumatic event.
• A statute of limitations to limit the applicability of past claims to 5 years before the effective date of the legislation.
• A 2-year cap on the PTSI benefit.
• A licensed psychologist or psychiatrist must diagnose the injury.
• A 3-year limit to file a claim once a first responder is diagnosed with PTSI.  

The bill will take effect October 29, 2025.

For more information on SB 365, please visit www.legis.state.pa.us. If you have any questions on the bill, please contact PSAB Senior Director of Government Affairs Ron Grutza at rgrutza@boroughs.org or PSAB Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs Logan Stover at lstover@boroughs.org.