Section 5119.78
No employer shall discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any public safety officer because the officer filed a claim or instituted, pursued, or testified in any proceedings related to reimbursement paid from the state post-traumatic stress fund as a result of a diagnosis of a post-traumatic stress injury received in the course of, and arising out of, employment as a public safety officer but without an accompanying physical injury. Any such officer may file an action in the common pleas court of the county of the officer's employment in which the relief that may be granted shall be limited to reasonable attorney fees and reinstatement with back pay, if the action is based on discharge, or an award for wages lost if based on demotion, reassignment, or punitive action taken, offset by earnings subsequent to discharge, demotion, reassignment, or punitive action taken. The action shall be forever barred unless filed within one hundred eighty days immediately following the discharge, demotion, reassignment, or punitive action taken. No action may be instituted or maintained unless the employer has received written notice of a claimed violation of this section within the ninety days immediately following the discharge, demotion, reassignment, or punitive action taken.
Last updated July 9, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 23, 2026 – Enacted by House Bill 479 - 136th General Assembly [ View September 23, 2026 Version ]