Medically-retired LPD Officer Jacob Flores felt a sense of relief after House Bills 2082 and 1689 passed Tuesday.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s long overdue and West Texas, the representatives here stood up for us and let our voices be heard…medical reform for first responders needed to happen,” Flores said.
Bill 2082 authored by Representative Dustin Burrows would create a liaison between officers who are injured on the job and the Texas Department of Insurance. The goal would be to assist first responders throughout the claim process and any disputes that may arise.
“It’s definitely a system that is made for you to want to give up the first time,” Flores said.
Bill 1689 passed unanimously, and would allow injured officers to take legal action if worker’s compensation didn’t meet their needs.
“I see our first responders as being victims of crime as well,” West Texas Crime Victim’s Coalition President Mary Duncan said, “They too have a job to do out there, protecting us, and they’re ready to get back to work and go out and protect and serve.”
It’s an initiative Charles Perry said he’ll back in the Senate.
“I think it’s a good idea that Representative Burrows came up with,” Perry said, “To be an advocate in a system that’s extremely complicated…I can tell you it’s more complicated than it needs to be.”
Perry said a middle-man would ensure the process is mutually beneficial for employers and employees.
“There’s no real advocate until you reach the point that you’d have to go hire an attorney, and that’s just wrong…That’s just not the process we should have.”