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By: Turner of Dallas, et al. |
H.B. No. 2143 |
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(Senate Sponsor - Whitmire) |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2019; |
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May 13, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & |
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Commerce; May 20, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable |
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Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; |
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May 20, 2019, sent to printer.) |
Click here to see the committee vote |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2143 |
By: Whitmire |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of a first responder for workers' |
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compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 504.019, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by a first |
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responder is a compensable injury under this subtitle only if it is |
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based on a diagnosis that: |
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(1) the disorder is caused by one or more events [an
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event] occurring in the course and scope of the first responder's |
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employment; and |
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(2) the preponderance of the evidence indicates that: |
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(A) the event or events described by Subdivision |
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(1) were [was] a substantial contributing factor of the disorder; |
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and |
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(B) if not for the event or events described by |
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Subdivision (1), the disorder would not have occurred. |
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(c) For purposes of this subtitle, the date of injury for |
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post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by a first responder is the |
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date on which the first responder first knew or should have known |
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that the disorder may be related to the first responder's |
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employment. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on a |
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compensable injury that occurs on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A claim based on a compensable injury that occurs before |
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that date is governed by the law as it existed on the date the |
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compensable injury occurred, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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