A state politician from De Pere has been recognized for his work.
State Senator Andre Jacque has been named the 2023 “State Legislator of the Year” by the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association (WSFCA) for “his active support of those who are always there to risk their lives for us in emergency situations”.
Sen. Jacque explained he was “deeply honored” to be recognized by the people of the organization.
The applause comes from his numerous projects for public safety groups, most recently including the bipartisan “Public Safety PTSD Coverage Act” which he authored.
The act allows mental health coverage under workman’s compensation for first responders and other public safety officials.
Jacque tells us, “Increasing suicide rates for first responders suffering from PTSD are now outpacing on-duty deaths”.
Under the previous legislation, the state only provided workers with compensation beyond their job’s day-to-day stress level though, as Sen. Jacque explains “Although the regular stress they face is unimaginable to the average Wisconsin worker, the State Supreme Court ruled it is no greater than that of the average first responder, so they were not eligible for mental health treatment under workers compensation”.
The bill discarded the “greater dimensions requirement” for those in these professions that are exposed to high-stress events every day.
This is not the first time that Sen. Jacque has been recognized as Legislator of the Year by a Wisconsin public safety group.
