Oklahoma bill would make mental health qualify for workers’ comp
WORKERS, EVEN AN INJUSTICE. REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYES SAYS THAT HOUSE BILL 2398 CAN GIVE THOSE…
WORKERS, EVEN AN INJUSTICE. REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYES SAYS THAT HOUSE BILL 2398 CAN GIVE THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS TIME TO HEAL AFTER A TRAUMATIC EVENT. HE ALSO SAYS THAT IT COULD HELP WITH RETENTION RATES AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE. ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER FROM FIREFIGHTERS, EMS, POLICE OFFICERS WAS, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE THIS COVERAGE. YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY’RE DEALING. SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY WITH, YOU KNOW, THE WORST OF HUMANITY, SPOUSAL ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE. THEY’RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, SCENES AND IMAGES AND THINGS THAT OVER TIME, I DON’T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD ACTUALLY ARGUE THAT THAT DOESN’T CAUSE ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, THEIR FAMILY, WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, WITH THEIR PEOPLE THEY SERVE. REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYES SAYS HE’S MAKING MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY BY CREATING A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW WORKER’S COMP TO COVER CLAIMS RELATED TO PTSD OR ANY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. HE FACT THAT A WORKER’S COMP DOES NOT COVER THAT RIGHT NOW TO ME WAS A TRAVESTY AND NEEDED TO CHANGE. WHILE THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME A BILL LIKE THIS HAS MADE ITS PWAY THROUGH THE CAPITOL, REPRESENTATIVE HAYES SAYS HE’S HOPEFUL MORE LAWMAKERS WILL SEE THE URGENCY. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FIGHTS THAT THAT REALLY IS WORTH HAVING AND IT’S LONG OVERDUE. SAYING FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE SHARED CONCERNS AS A FIRE CHIEF, HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE’LL GET OFFICERS THAT RESPOND TO FIRE CALLS. AND BY THE THIRD CALL, THEY’RE LIKE, I CAN’T DO THIS. YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY’LL SEE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GOES ON WITH THAT JOB. HAYES IS HOPEFUL THIS COULD HELP KEEP OKLAHOMA FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE STATE AND IN THE WORK FORCE. I DO KNOW THAT THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON RETENTION. IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT FOR THOSE OFFICERS THAT CAN HAVE THAT HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE AND STAY ON THE FORCE AND WORK THROUGH THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE OTHER RETIRED. NOW, THE BILL HAS PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE. IT NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FLOOR. AND REPRESENTATIVE HAYES REALLY JUST ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO CALL YOUR SENAT
Oklahoma bill would make mental health conditions qualify for workers’ comp among first responders
State Rep. Neil Hays said House Bill 2398 would give first responders time to heal after traumatic events.
Updated: 5:46 PM CDT Apr 13, 2023
A bill that would make PTSD and mental health conditions qualifying claims for workers’ compensation among Oklahoma first responders is closer to becoming law. State Rep. Neil Hays said House Bill 2398 would give first responders time to heal after traumatic events. The author also hopes it could help retention rates for agencies across the state. >> Download the KOCO 5 App”One of the things I heard over and over and over from firefighters, EMS, police officers was literally the fact that they didn’t have coverage. They didn’t understand why,” Hays said. “They’re dealing with, some people would say, the worst of humanity — spouse abuse, child abuse. They’re looking at scenes and images and things that, over time, I don’t know how anybody could argue that that doesn’t cause issues with their family, with their community, with the people they serve.” Hays said he is making mental health a priority by creating a bill that would allow workers’ compensation to cover claims related to PTSD or any mental health needs. “The fact that workers comp does not cover that right now to me is a travesty and needed to change,” Hays said. This isn’t the first time a bill like this one has made its way through the state Capitol, but Hays said he’s hopeful lawmakers see the urgency. “This is one of those fights that’s worth having, and it’s long overdue,” Hays said. He said first responders have reached out to him to share their concerns. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”As a fire chief, he said, you know, we get officers that respond to fire calls, and by the third call, they’re like, ‘I can’t do this.’ Some of the things they see, some of the things that goes on with that job,” Hays said. Hays also said he is hopeful this could help keep Oklahoma first responders in the state and in the workforce. “I do know this will have an impact on retention,” Hays said. The bill passed in the House and in a committee in the Senate. It now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. Hays said he encourages everyone to call their senators to get this passed as soon as possible. Top HeadlinesPerson dead after shooting at southeast Oklahoma City apartment complex, police sayFormer OU QB Baker Mayfield, wife to host charity event for Meals on Wheels of NormanGilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Pelicans in play-inCommunity does best they can after deadly crash near DavisTwo dead after crash involving 5 tractor-trailers on I-35 near Davis41-year-old man dies in motorcycle crash on I-40 near Weatherford, OHP saysInvestigation underway after Fort Sill soldier found dead in homeOklahoma superintendent speaks after Stitt appoints new secretary of education
A bill that would make PTSD and mental health conditions qualifying claims for workers’ compensation among Oklahoma first responders is closer to becoming law.
State Rep. Neil Hays said House Bill 2398 would give first responders time to heal after traumatic events. The author also hopes it could help retention rates for agencies across the state.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
“One of the things I heard over and over and over from firefighters, EMS, police officers was literally the fact that they didn’t have coverage. They didn’t understand why,” Hays said. “They’re dealing with, some people would say, the worst of humanity — spouse abuse, child abuse. They’re looking at scenes and images and things that, over time, I don’t know how anybody could argue that that doesn’t cause issues with their family, with their community, with the people they serve.”
Hays said he is making mental health a priority by creating a bill that would allow workers’ compensation to cover claims related to PTSD or any mental health needs.
“The fact that workers comp does not cover that right now to me is a travesty and needed to change,” Hays said.
This isn’t the first time a bill like this one has made its way through the state Capitol, but Hays said he’s hopeful lawmakers see the urgency.
“This is one of those fights that’s worth having, and it’s long overdue,” Hays said.
He said first responders have reached out to him to share their concerns.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“As a fire chief, he said, you know, we get officers that respond to fire calls, and by the third call, they’re like, ‘I can’t do this.’ Some of the things they see, some of the things that goes on with that job,” Hays said.
Hays also said he is hopeful this could help keep Oklahoma first responders in the state and in the workforce.
“I do know this will have an impact on retention,” Hays said.
The bill passed in the House and in a committee in the Senate. It now heads to the Senate floor for a vote.
Hays said he encourages everyone to call their senators to get this passed as soon as possible.
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