Florida House panel OKs bill giving first responders with PTSD more time to file claims

Florida law enforcement officers and firemen will have additional time to file workers’ compensation claims for work-related post-traumatic stress under a bill that passed a House committee last week. The bill builds off a 2018 law that modified the state’s workers’ compensation laws to allow first responders who have job-induced post-traumatic stress disorder to tap into indemnity benefits which compensate injured workers for a portion of their lost wages while out of work with an injury. Under current law, first responders must file notices within 90 days of the qualifying event or manifestation of the disorder. Likewise, any claim not filed within 52 weeks of the qualifying event or manifestation is barred. Florida Politics

New Jersey Supreme Court finds compensability in parking lot case

The New Jersey Supreme Court last week rectified an appellate court decision and found the injuries sustained by the petitioner, a librarian for the Sparta Public Library, in a parking lot owned and controlled by the employer, were compensable, dismissing the third party claim filed by the injured worker against a township. In this case, the employer both owned and exercised control over the premises as reflected by their maintenance of the premises, Jeffrey Newby, Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby LLP. JD Supra

Georgia: County commissioner re-appointed to workers’ comp board

Lowndes County, Georgia Commissioner Demarcus Marshall has been reappointed to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia – Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund, according to a statement from the group. Valdosta Daily Times

27 state attorneys general call for withdrawal of vaccine mandate

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined a coalition of 27 attorneys general calling on Fed-OSHA to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers. The emergency temporary standard, which would require vaccination for millions of employees, as of last week had not been rescinded. WJLA