BILL 15

An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

1                  The Workers’ Compensation Act, chapter W-13 of the Revised Statutes, 1973, is amended by adding after section 7 the following:

7.1(1)         In this section

“firefighter” means a firefighter as defined in the Firefighters’ Compensation Act;

(pompier)

“paramedic” means an individual who is a regulated member of the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick; (travailleur paramédical)

“physician” means an individual who is a regulated member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick who holds a license issued under the Medical Act or an individual who has a similar status under similar legislation in a jurisdiction outside New Brunswick;

 (médecin)

“police officer” means an individual who is a chief of police or police officer appointed under the Police Act;

 (agent de police)

“post-traumatic stress disorder” means Posttraumatic Stress Disorder as that condition is described in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association;

 (état de stress post-traumatique)

 “psychologist” means an individual who is a regulated member of the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick who holds a license issued under The College of Psychologists Act or an individual who has a similar status under similar legislation in a jurisdiction outside New Brunswick;

 (psychologue)

“sheriff” means an individual appointed as a sheriff under section 2 of the Sheriffs Act.

 (shérif)

7.1(2)         If a worker who is or has been a firefighter, paramedic, police officer or sheriff is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by a physician or psychologist, the post-traumatic stress disorder shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proven, to be an injury that arose out of and occurred during the course of the worker’s employment in response to a traumatic event or a series of traumatic events to which the worker was exposed in carrying out the worker’s duties as a firefighter, paramedic, police officer or sheriff.

7.1(3)         The Commission shall provide to a worker referred to in subsection (2) who is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or offer to such a worker assistance in obtaining, treatment by culturally competent clinicians who are familiar with the research concerning treatment of first responders for post-traumatic stress disorder.