A Maine legislative committee signed off Monday on a proposal to try to help emergency responders better access mental health support.
The bill, LD 1879, establishes a presumption that firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers, emergency dispatchers and others who are diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder have the condition because of âextraordinary and unusual work stress,â a bill before the Maine Legislature states. The legislatureâs Labor and Housing Committee unanimously approved the proposal on Monday. Professional Firefighters of Maine backed the change. The organization said the bill would shift the burden of proof to the employer to prove the condition is not related to work.
The full Maine Legislature must still vote on the proposal.
