Rep. Peter Abbarno introduces legislation protecting coroners and medical examiners

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, pre-filed legislation that would protect the mental health of local coroners and medical examiners.

House Bill 1002 was introduced ahead of the 2025 legislative session beginning in January.

“This is a continuation of my efforts to make sure workers responding to traumatic situations in our community get the medical treatment they deserve,” said Abbarno, who introduced similar legislation in 2024. “Medical examiners and coroners experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from their uniquely stressful job responding to tragedy in our communities.”

HB 1002 would allow post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be considered an occupational disease for county coroners and medical examiner personnel for workers’ compensation purposes. Currently, first responders, such as law enforcement and firefighters, are covered by similar occupational disease protections from PTSD under the workers’ compensation system.

“Coroners and medical examiners respond to the location of fires, car accidents, and other very sad and tragic situations,” added Abbarno. “In many cases, they tend to their friends, neighbors, and community members. We need to make sure they receive reasonable and necessary treatment for their PTSD and help them continue doing the very important work in our communities.”

Last year’s version of this policy, House Bill 2031, passed the House of Representatives unanimously, but no vote was taken by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

The 2025 legislative session begins on Jan. 13.

###

Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov