Relating to workers’ compensation claims for mental injuries

This bill establishes a requirement for an employee claiming workers’ compensation for an injury of a purely mental nature that is not associated with any physical injury. In order for such an injury to be compensable, the employee claiming the injury must establish that the injury was caused by workplace stress of greater magnitude than the day-to-day mental stresses experienced by other employees employed in the same or similar jobs, regardless of whether such employees are employed by the same employer. This requirement applies in addition to all other requirements for workers’ compensation claims under Code chapter 85. The requirement does not apply to an employee who is an emergency medical care provider, a fire fighter, or a peace officer if a court determines that the employee’s workplace stress was due to extreme circumstances related to the employee’s employment in one of these occupations.