AUGUSTA - Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, introduced legislation Monday before the Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee that would support Maines law enforcement officers, corrections officers, E-9-1-1 dispatchers, firefighters and emergency medical services providers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In 2017, the Maine Legislature passed a law requiring that when certain emergency responders develop PTSD, the burden of proof falls to the employer to prove the condition is not work-related. The law provides that the link between PTSD and emergency response professions may be rebutted in some cases, and it is set to expire in October of this year.
LD 1879 would strengthen this law by removing the "rebuttable presumption" provision and the sunset clause, making the law permanent. The bill would help ensure that emergency responders who suffer from PTSD due to the often stressful and traumatic nature of their work environments can access timely and appropriate treatment under Maine's worker compensation laws.
"These public servants are often responding to calls in their communities originating from friends, neighbors or even family members in peril," said Sylvester. "The experiences these folks encounter are unlike anything many of us could imagine. They deserve, at the very least, the unequivocal support of the law in getting the treatment they need."
Paul Gasper, executive director of the Maine Association of Police, testified in support of Sylvester's proposal.
"LD 1879 is a vital first step in codifying and normalizing not only the recognition of the physical and mental health of Maine's first responders, but the need for a fair, consistent and cooperative approach to prevention, early recognition and treatment," said Gasper. "Eliminating the sunset provision put in place by the original legislation in 2017 is this Legislatures opportunity to forward the cause of protecting the protectors who work on your behalf in all of our state, municipal and county sectors."
The Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee will hold a work session on the proposal in the coming weeks.
Sylvester is serving his third term in the Maine House and represents part of Portland. He serves as House chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Sylvester], c. 812-1111