Chalfont Borough Council is opposing a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act that’d allow first responders dealing with post-traumatic stress injuries to qualify for workers’ comp.
The council on March 12 unanimously approved sending a letter of opposition to the General Assembly.
Bipartisan House Bill 1632 and Senate Bill 365 would amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to extend coverage to first responders — firefighters, EMS providers, PA police officers, and more — should they report struggling with post-traumatic stress injuries. A PTSI diagnosis from a licensed medical or mental health professional would be required.
Though council members expressed support for the addition, several had concerns regarding the amendments as currently written.
Council President John Engel read aloud from an Action Alert put out by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB), which was included in the meeting’s packet.
It describes the amendments as “costly” and compares the current state of the bills to the Firefighter Cancer Presumption Act of 2011, which the writer claims to have “led to skyrocketing workers’ compensation premiums and great uncertainty.”
It ends with a call to action from borough councils to oppose the bills in their current form.
Engel agreed with the statement, saying that he felt the bills were written “too broadly,” and should require an official diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist rather than any “licensed medical professional,” as the bill is written.
It also ought to require evidence that the person applying was directly exposed to a traumatic event, Engel said.
Vice President Tracey Bowen clarified that her and her fellow council members will be in full support of the bills, provided these changes are made.
Councilman Mitchell Meyerson expressed concern around how funds for proper compensation would be provided. Since most paid first responders are compensated with tax money, he said he fears that, if not properly limited, the bills could have a negative repercussion on taxpayers.
“The intent is good,” said Meyerson. “But it doesn’t have the mechanisms.”
House Bill 1632’s list of co-sponsors includes Rep. Tim Brennan, a Democrat whose 29th District includes Chalfont, Rep. Perry Warren, another Bucks County Democrat.
Senate Bill 365 was introduced by Western Pa. Republican Camera Bartolotta and co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, whose 24th District is situated in Western Montgomery County. Part of the district borders Bucks County.
Both bills are in committees.
In other news, Chalfont is looking for a new member of the Chalfont Borough Planning Commission and Chalfont Emergency Medical Services Board following Robert Milligan’s resignation from both last month. Vying for a seat on the planning commission are Charles Seigfreid, who has lived in Chalfont for 31 years, and Michael Beebie, a former borough councilman.
Borough residents wishing to apply for either position are encouraged to fill out a Volunteer Application form and submit it to the borough office. The form can be found on the borough’s official website.
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