Nevada2025Active
AB142
Expanding First Responder Status for Stress-Related Workers' Compensation
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 1:27 AM
In one sentence
This law adds civilian crime scene investigators employed by law enforcement agencies to the list of first responders eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they suffer mental injuries from witnessing violent events.
What it does
- Adds civilian employees of law enforcement agencies whose primary duties involve responding to and investigating crime scenes to the definition of a 'first responder'.
- Allows these new eligible workers, along with existing first responders, to claim stress-related injury benefits if they directly witness death or severe bodily harm from violence.
- Requires proof by clear and convincing medical or psychiatric evidence that extreme stress caused the mental injury due to witnessing specific violent events.
- Defines 'law enforcement agency' as any group created by law with a duty to enforce laws and employing persons with peace officer powers.
- Clarifies that 'public safety agency' includes fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and emergency medical services.
Who it affects
- Civilian employees of law enforcement agencies who primarily respond to and investigate crime scenes.
- Existing first responders such as firefighters, police officers, dispatchers, call takers, EMTs, and paramedics.
- Law enforcement agencies and public safety agencies that employ these workers.
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not specify the exact date it becomes effective.
- It is unclear how much money local governments will need to spend on these new benefits, though a fiscal impact may occur.
- Employees must prove their injury was caused by directly seeing or hearing specific violent events; gradual stress from other causes remains excluded.
Plain language
Terms to know
- First responder
- A worker defined by law who can receive special stress-related benefits if they witness violent events, now including civilian crime scene investigators employed by law enforcement agencies.
- Industrial insurance
- Workers' compensation coverage that pays for injuries or diseases caused by employment.
- Mass casualty incident
- An event designated as such by governmental agencies responsible for public safety or emergency response.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Revises provisions relating to industrial insurance. (BDR 53-876)