State firefighter and police union leaders on Thursday hailed a new state law that provides first responders with workers’ compensation coverage for mental illnesses.
Vermont is the first state to pass such a law, according to the International Association of Firefighters. Bradley Reed, president of Professional Firefighters of Vermont, thanked lawmakers for helping the bill reach the finish line.
“Our members will be able to access treatment that will keep our firefighters and paramedics on the street, and keep them healthy so they can continue to provide the essential emergency services Vermonters call for every day,” Reed said at a news conference at the Burlington Fire Department’s Central Station.