OLR Bill Analysis
AN ACT CONCERNING STRESS-RELATED BENEFITS FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
This bill makes police officers eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they are mentally or emotionally injured because they used or were subjected to deadly force in the line of duty. An officer subjected to deadly force must reasonably believe he was at risk of physical injury from its use. Under current law, mental and emotional injuries are compensable only if they arise from a physical injury.
Under the bill, a police officer acts within the line of duty when he does what he is required, authorized, or paid to do. The bill defines "police officer" as a (1) state or local police officer, (2) chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, (3) special deputy sheriff, (4) conservation or special conservation officer, (5) constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, (6) special policeman, (7) adult probation officer, or (8) Department of Correction official authorized to make arrests in correctional facilities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2000
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
sHB 5695, favorably reported by the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, is almost identical to this bill. The only differences are that this bill (1) does not include in the definition of "police officers" the State Capitol Police and members of a special police force established by an institution of higher education and (2) requires an officer subjected to deadly force to show that he reasonably believe he was at risk of physical injury from its use.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea |
37 |
Nay |
3 |