HB 353 - Peer Support Counseling Programs

• Law enforcement agencies, emergency service providers, and the Department of Corrections may establish peer support counseling programs to provide emotional and moral support to personnel who have experienced emotionally traumatic incidents during employment.

• Employees designated as peer support counselors must have received training in counseling and providing emotional and moral support to peace officers and emergency service personnel.

• Communications made during peer support counseling sessions are confidential and cannot be disclosed to others; this information is not subject to public disclosure, not admissible in criminal or civil proceedings, and not subject to discovery or subpoena.

• Confidentiality protections do not apply to threats of suicide or homicide, information required by law to be reported, information about child or vulnerable adult abuse, or admissions of criminal conduct.

• Information obtained through regular employment observations or by a counselor responding as the initial responding officer at an incident remains subject to normal discovery and evidentiary rules.