As of Jan. 1, there is a state law in Tennessee that can help firefighters get better while still getting paid.
The James “Dustin” Samples Act honors Samples, a Cleveland, Tennessee firefighter who bravely fought PTSD on the job. When he took his own life in 2020, his department and his family acted.
Last year, legislation was passed that establishes the presumption that PTSD is a work-related injury for firefighters. It also creates a grant to help employers cover the cost following workers’ compensation claims.
