A law amending Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act to lower the burden of proof for first responders with post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) was signed recently by Gov. Josh Shapiro and will go into effect Oct. 30, 2025.
This was a big win for the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, which had lobbied hard for the past decade in support of the amendment.
“There was some back and forth, but I am proud to say we finally got this done for our members,” PPFFA President Robert Brooks said. “They experience trauma every day. And now if that leads to PTSI, they can get the treatment they need and return to work instead of going out on disability. We really appreciate Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly sponsors for helping us make this happen.”
Current state law requires a first responder to prove there were “objective abnormal working conditions” to establish a PTSI claim. This standard has proven very difficult, if not impossible, to meet.
The new law removes that burden of proof. Instead, it stipulates that fire fighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics can be diagnosed with PTSI for psychological traumas arising from individual traumatic events or cumulative highly stressful experiences on the job.
“PPFFA President Brooks and his team did an incredible job, championing this life-saving bill and seeing it through to passage,” said Andrew Pantelis, IAFF 4th District Vice President. “Now our Pennsylvania members who experience symptoms of PTSI can get the treatment they need when they need it.”
PPFFA leaders and members worked to gain the bi-partisan support of current legislators and endorsed candidates who promised to help move the legislation.
The sponsor of the senate bill, Sen. Camera Barlotta, said in a statement, “First responders commonly experience the most harrowing moments in others’ lives as part of their jobs. Because it’s typical for them – as opposed to something that would be very out of the ordinary for most other jobs – they were often barred from accessing important care. I am pleased that this legislation got passed so that they could receive that care.”
The legislation was personal to State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara who lost her father, a Philadelphia fire fighter, to suicide. O’Mara sponsored the House version of the bill so that other families did not have to suffer the same tragedy.
“PTSI care can save an emergency responder’s life, and covering PTSI under Workers’ Compensation will help protect their livelihoods while allowing them to continue serving our communities,” O’Mara said in a statement. “First responders care for us during our most vulnerable moments; it is our duty to support them during theirs.”
