The Legislature continues its consideration of expanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a presumptive occupational disease for local correctional facility workers. SB 5882 passed out of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee without amendment. It is now scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee but has not yet been scheduled for executive action. The bill has until Monday, February 9, to pass out of the fiscal committee before it can move on for a vote on the Senate floor.

While AWC recognizes the importance of supporting employees who have been harmed physically or mentally on the job, we continue to be concerned with the presumptive disease designation and associated costs that will be incurred. We continue to ask that the panel of medical experts at the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) review whether PTSD should be declared a presumptive occupational disease prior to the Legislature taking action.

If the bill passes out of the fiscal committee, there will still be time to have your voice heard on this issue. Cities can reach out to their legislators to share how this bill would impact them. Please use the following talking points in your communications:

• The bill applies presumptive PTSD claims to all staff employed at a city jail facility— including those who do not have contact with inmates.
• The bill lets workers file presumptive PTSD claims after being employed for only 90 days and for up to five years after they are no longer employed.
• Presumptive PTSD claims will result in unsustainable claims costs and workers’ compensation rate increases for city jails, as witnessed with first responders.
• High costs may force cities to close their jails, further burdening county and state corrections systems.

Specifically, AWC encourages cities to do the following:

• Ask the Legislature to look at how the workers’ compensation system handles PTSD claims, but do not add new costs to an already unsustainable system.
• Request more study by the experts to determine if PTSD is a presumptive occupational disease for corrections staff.
• Ask L&I to be more proactive in reviewing and approving treatment guidelines for PTSD claims that will result in better care and better outcomes for injured workers.

Cities’ voices once again needed on presumptive workers’ comp claims for city jails

January 23, 2026

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious health issue that requires compassion and evidence-based care. AWC recognizes the importance of supporting employees who have been harmed physically or mentally on the job.

The Legislature is once again considering expanding PTSD as a presumptive occupational disease for local correctional facility workers. A “local correctional facility worker” is defined as any employee of a city jail, not just an employee with direct inmate interaction.

Under SB 5882, correctional facility workers need to have only been employed in a local correctional facility for a minimum of 90 days to be eligible for the presumption. In contrast, firefighters and police must have a minimum of 10 years of service to be eligible for presumptive PTSD claims.

AWC’s appreciates the intent of the bill in ensuring employers are doing their part to take care of employees injured at work. However, we have concerns with the presumptive occupational disease designation outlined in the bill. PTSD is a complex mental health condition that can have complicated causes that require a thorough assessment by a mental health expert. We ask that the panel of medical experts at the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) review whether PTSD should be declared a presumptive occupational disease prior to the Legislature taking action.

Similar changes to presumptive PTSD claims were made for first responders in 2018, and since then workers’ compensation costs have skyrocketed, primarily due to presumptive PTSD claim costs. For first responders, the average presumptive PTSD claim costs around $650,000 and claims that go to pension cost over $1 million. Cities should assume that similar costs will impact their jail staff workers’ compensation rates. Currently, 12 cities have their own jail, and another six cities partner in South Correctional Entity (SCORE), a multijurisdictional facility.

When an occupational disease is determined to be presumptive, it means that regardless of other factors, the disease/injury is determined to be work related and the employer has the burden of trying to rebut that should the employer believe that the injury is not work related.

To strike a balance, cities should share their concerns about how increased workers’ compensation costs for correctional facility workers could impact their finances and ability to maintain their jail. While there is no argument that corrections officers may be exposed to traumatic experiences, there should be a scientific basis for determining that PTSD is a presumptive occupational disease.

Cities should reach out to your legislators and members of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee to share how this bill would impact them. Please use the following talking points in your communications:

• • The bill applies presumptive PTSD claims to all staff employed at a city jail facility—including those who do not have contact with inmates.
• The bill lets workers file presumptive PTSD claims after being employed for only 90 days and for up to five years after they are no longer employed.
• Presumptive PTSD claims will result in unsustainable claims costs and workers’ compensation rate increases for city jails, as witnessed with first responders.
• High costs may force cities to close their jails, further burdening county and state corrections systems.

Specifically, AWC encourages cities to do the following:

• Ask the Legislature to look at how the workers’ compensation system handles PTSD claims, but do not add new costs to an already unsustainable system.
• Request more study by the experts to determine if PTSD is a presumptive occupational disease for corrections staff.
• Ask L&I to be more proactive in reviewing and approving treatment guidelines for PTSD claims that will result in better care and better outcomes for injured workers.

Dates to remember

SB 5882 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Monday, January 26, at 10:30 am.