Nebraska Lawmakers Kill Bill to Provide Workers’ Comp for Mental Illness

Emergency responders who suffer mental illness after witnessing a violent act shouldn’t plan on getting workers’ compensation benefits.

State lawmakers changed positions on Thursday, April 10th voting down a bill (LB 1082) that would have made police officers, firefighters and other emergency workers who witnessed violent acts eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

The second-round vote to kill the bill came just three days after lawmakers gave it first-round approval.

The bill had been watered down significantly since being introduced.

Under a previous version of the bill, any employee who witnessed a violent act and suffered mental illness would have been eligible work workers’ comp.