Ohio Senate Passes Bill to Allocate $40 Million to First Responder PTSD Fund

COLUMBUS— The Ohio Senate passed Sub. House Bill 479, the budget correction bill, which included appropriating $40 million to support first responders with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), unanimously passed the bill yesterday with bipartisan support, with an amendment regarding PTSD support for first responders. 

The bill grants the Post-Traumatic Stress Fund Commission the ability to appropriate available funds in the future, including the $40 million from the budget correction bill, upon the legislation becoming law. 

"First responders not only risk their lives for our safety," Sen. Cirino said. "They also see unimaginable and traumatic scenes that can cause serious mental health issues for the rest of their lives. The least we can do is support them as they defend us." 

The Ohio Senate sent the bill to the Ohio House for a concurrence vote. 

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