COLUMBIA, Pa. — A week after the Pennsylvania State House passed HB 1632, local municipalities are voicing their concerns about the impacts the bill would have on their budgets.
House Bill 1632 would allow first responders to receive workers' compensation benefits for suffering PTSD on the job. The bill passed with wide bipartisan support, 154-46.
Democratic State Representative Jennifer O'Mara, who was the bill's prime sponsor, said the legislation will allow first responders to be able to get the care they need.
“This is the legislation they are asking for. They don’t ask for many things," said Rep. O'Mara (D-Delaware County). “It will encourage them to seek the treatment instead of trying to hide it or avoid it because they’re afraid they’ll no longer be able to provide for their family.”
West Hempfield Township Manager Andrew Stern is among several municipal leaders who have voiced their concerns with the bill. Stern served as a firefighter for more than 15 years and said he has firsthand experience with the trauma many first responders face on the job.
He said the bill does not provide the necessary resources first responders need, as it is currently written.
“Ideally, when an emergency responder faces a PTSD incident, they should immediately have resources available for them to address it then and there, and not wait," said Stern. "The longer you wait, the more difficult it might be to address it."
Stern also worries that the insurance provider will no longer be able to cover West Hempfield Township. That would force them onto the State Worker's Insurance Fund, which Stern referred to as "the insurance of last resort."
"[It would be] significantly higher premiums, significantly more complicated process to put claims through, and it could have a significant financial impact on municipalities," said Stern.
Columbia Borough is already covered by the State Worker's Insurance Fund since 2011. Borough manager Mark Stivers is worried the increase in premiums would cut significantly into the budget.
“If we have a significant increase, what that will mean is that we’ll probably have to increase our tax rate so we can afford it," said Stivers. "That’s something we don’t want to do.”
Stern and Stivers said they fully support providing help for first responders who are serving local communities. They said they want to see some revisions to the bill to grant coverage to first responders and protect municipalities.
“I’d say let’s keep going, let’s keep modifying the bill until the point where it benefits all of us," said Stivers.
The bill has now moved into the State Senate.