HB 101/a FIREFIGHTER & EMERGENCY PEER SUPPORT ACT

Rep Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

Actions: HPREF [2] HJC/HAFC-HJC [4] DP/a-HAFC [5] w/drn [7] PASSED/H (57-6) [6] SJC-SJC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Bill 101 (HB 101) enacts the Firefighter and Emergency Service Provider Peer Support Act (FESPPS), which allows state, local and regional public fire agencies to create confidential and limited liability peer support programs for their employees and volunteers. An appropriation is made.  

 House Bill 101 (HB 101) enacts the Firefighter and Emergency Services Provider Peer Support Act (FESPPS) to address stress and trauma related to the professions. Definitions are provided, and eligible participants include employees and volunteers, firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers. 

Peer support services are intended to assist those struggling with behavioral health issues such as stress, grief, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and workplace issues.

In order to have a peer support system, state, local or regional public fire agencies must have team members who have completed a training course approved by the state fire marshal’s office. 

Communications between emergency service providers and peer support team members are confidential in the context of service provision, with some exceptions.

Peer support team members are provided with limited liability.

Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the General Fund to the state fire marshal’s office for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2025 to implement the training course and to train peer support team members.
 

 Currently, no such program exists statewide, and no specific funding is earmarked for this purpose. If the bill does not pass, alternative resources to address the issue will need to be found/relied upon. 

 Amended January 27, 2024 in the House Judiciary Committee

HJCa/HB 101: The House Judiciary Committee amends House Bill 101 (HB 101) as follows:

1.	On page 1, line 16, strike "; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION". 
2.	On page 2, lines 18 and 19, strike ", including firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers". 
3.	On page 3, line 3, strike ", hospital staff, clergy or educator who" and insert in lieu thereof "who has completed peer support training approved by the state fire marshal's office,". 
4.	On page 4, lines 5 and 6, strike ", and to prevent another from disclosing,". 
5.	On page 5, line 3, after "FOR", insert "PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED BY". 
6.	On page 5, line 11, strike "gross negligence or intentional misconduct" and insert in lieu thereof "a failure to exercise ordinary care; provided that the liability shall be subject to the Tort Claims Act". 
7.	On page 5, strike lines 12 through 17.
 

 House Bill 88 (HB 88) - Funds for Firefighter and EMT Recruitment