THE BILL ITSELF
HB 451
911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Employment-related Mental or Nervous Injuries
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to 911 public safety telecommunicator
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employment-related mental or nervous injuries;
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amending s. 112.1815, F.S.; defining the term "911
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public safety telecommunicator"; providing that
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specified provisions relating to certain medical
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benefits for mental or nervous injuries for first
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responders also apply to 911 public safety
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telecommunicators; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
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(2) of section 112.1815, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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112.1815 Firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical
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technicians, and law enforcement officers, and 911 public safety
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telecommunicators; special provisions for employment-related
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accidents and injuries.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) "First responder" as used in this section means a law
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enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10, a firefighter as
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defined in s. 633.102, or an emergency medical technician or
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paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local
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government. A volunteer law enforcement officer, firefighter, or
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emergency medical technician or paramedic engaged by the state
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or a local government is also considered a first responder of
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the state or local government for purposes of this section.
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(b) "911 public safety telecommunicator" has the same
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meaning as in s. 401.465(1).
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(2)(a) For the purpose of determining benefits under this
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section relating to employment-related accidents and injuries of
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first responders and 911 public safety telecommunicators, the
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following shall apply:
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1. An injury or disease caused by the exposure to a toxic
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substance is not an injury by accident arising out of employment
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unless there is a preponderance of the evidence establishing
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that exposure to the specific substance involved, at the levels
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to which the first responder was exposed, can cause the injury
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or disease sustained by the employee.
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2. Any adverse result or complication caused by a smallpox
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vaccination of a first responder is deemed to be an injury by
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accident arising out of work performed in the course and scope
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of employment.
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3. A mental or nervous injury involving a first responder
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or a 911 public safety telecommunicator and occurring as a
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manifestation of a compensable injury must be demonstrated by
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clear and convincing evidence. For a mental or nervous injury
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arising out of the employment unaccompanied by a physical injury
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involving a first responder or a 911 public safety
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telecommunicator, only medical benefits under s. 440.13 shall be
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payable for the mental or nervous injury. However, payment of
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indemnity as provided in s. 440.15 may not be made unless a
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physical injury arising out of injury as a first responder
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accompanies the mental or nervous injury. Benefits for a first
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responder are not subject to any limitation on temporary
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benefits under s. 440.093 or the 1-percent limitation on
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permanent psychiatric impairment benefits under s. 440.15(3)(c).
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Benefits for a 911 public safety telecommunicator are not
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subject to any limitation on temporary benefits under s.
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440.093.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.