911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Employment-related Mental or Nervous Injuries

HB 451 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb451-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to 911 public safety telecommunicator 2
employment-related mental or nervous injuries; 3
amending s. 112.1815, F.S.; defining the term "911 4
public safety telecommunicator"; providing that 5
specified provisions relating to certain medical 6
benefits for mental or nervous injuries for first 7
responders also apply to 911 public safety 8
telecommunicators; providing an effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection 13
(2) of section 112.1815, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 14
112.1815 Firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical 15
technicians, and law enforcement officers, and 911 public safety 16
telecommunicators; special provisions for employment-related 17
accidents and injuries.— 18
(1) As used in this section, the term: 19
(a) "First responder" as used in this section means a law 20
enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10, a firefighter as 21
defined in s. 633.102, or an emergency medical technician or 22
paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local 23
government. A volunteer law enforcement officer, firefighter, or 24
emergency medical technician or paramedic engaged by the state 25

HB 451 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb451-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

or a local government is also considered a first responder of 26
the state or local government for purposes of this section. 27
(b) "911 public safety telecommunicator" has the same 28
meaning as in s. 401.465(1). 29
(2)(a) For the purpose of determining benefits under this 30
section relating to employment-related accidents and injuries of 31
first responders and 911 public safety telecommunicators, the 32
following shall apply: 33
1. An injury or disease caused by the exposure to a toxic 34
substance is not an injury by accident arising out of employment 35
unless there is a preponderance of the evidence establishing 36
that exposure to the specific substance involved, at the levels 37
to which the first responder was exposed, can cause the injury 38
or disease sustained by the employee. 39
2. Any adverse result or complication caused by a smallpox 40
vaccination of a first responder is deemed to be an injury by 41
accident arising out of work performed in the course and scope 42
of employment. 43
3. A mental or nervous injury involving a first responder 44
or a 911 public safety telecommunicator and occurring as a 45
manifestation of a compensable injury must be demonstrated by 46
clear and convincing evidence. For a mental or nervous injury 47
arising out of the employment unaccompanied by a physical injury 48
involving a first responder or a 911 public safety 49
telecommunicator, only medical benefits under s. 440.13 shall be 50

HB 451 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb451-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

payable for the mental or nervous injury. However, payment of 51
indemnity as provided in s. 440.15 may not be made unless a 52
physical injury arising out of injury as a first responder 53
accompanies the mental or nervous injury. Benefits for a first 54
responder are not subject to any limitation on temporary 55
benefits under s. 440.093 or the 1-percent limitation on 56
permanent psychiatric impairment benefits under s. 440.15(3)(c). 57
Benefits for a 911 public safety telecommunicator are not 58
subject to any limitation on temporary benefits under s. 59
440.093. 60
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 61