Fund For Sandy Hook Workers

Legislative leaders Wednesday will announce creation of a special fund to aid workers and first-responders to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. The fund will assist individuals who suffered psychological trauma as a result of the Dec. 14 school attack, but who are not currently eligible for workers’ compensation.

The legislature is expected to take up a bill Wednesday establishing the fund, which will be financed through private donations. The fund will be announced at a 10:30 a.m. press conference at the state capitol building.

Current law does not allow teachers, firefighters or police officers who witnessed — and in some instances had to investigate or clean — the horrific scene at Sandy Hook Elementary School to receive workers’ compensation benefits as a result of emotional damages.

An additional measure before the legislature would revise current law to extend benefits in the future to those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of witnessing intentional “death or maiming” or the immediate aftermath thereof while performing employment duties.