2006 Minnesota Statutes

299A.411 POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME BENEFIT.
(a) A law enforcement agency shall provide benefits to any peace officer, as defined in
section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), employed by the agency who:
(1) suffers a debilitating psychological reaction to a traumatic event;
(2) is diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist as suffering from posttraumatic
stress syndrome; and
(3) is determined by a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist to be unable to perform other
peace officer job duties offered by the employer through reassignment.
A peace officer who meets all of the conditions of this paragraph is entitled to the benefits
described in paragraph (b). A peace officer who meets the conditions in clauses (1) and (2) is
entitled to the benefits in paragraph (b), clause (2). The availability of benefits does not depend on
whether there is also an accompanying physical injury or physical cause of the condition.
(b) The benefits provided by the law enforcement agency shall include:
(1) payment by the employer for unreimbursed loss of wages during the time period the
officer is disabled, but not to exceed one year; and
(2) payment by the employer for unreimbursed expenses for medical treatment, including
psychiatric or psychological counseling, to cure and relieve the effects of the posttraumatic stress
syndrome during the time period the officer is disabled, but not to exceed one year.
(c) The employer may request a peace officer to undergo an examination by a psychiatrist or
licensed psychologist selected by the employer.
(d) As used in this section, "traumatic event" means an event involving the employee
lawfully taking the life of or causing great bodily harm, as defined in section 609.02, subdivision
8 , to another by force or violence. "Debilitating psychological reaction" means that, following
the traumatic event, the peace officer is unable to perform the essential functions of the peace
officer's job without reassignment.
History: 1999 c 216 art 5 s 3