HB 15 Summary

• Allows law enforcement agencies, emergency service providers, and the Department of Corrections to establish peer support counseling programs for employees who have experienced emotionally traumatic incidents at work.

• Permits agencies to designate trained employees as peer support counselors to provide emotional and moral support to peace officers and emergency service personnel.

• Makes all written and oral communications during peer support counseling sessions confidential and prohibits disclosure to other persons, with limited exceptions.

• Shields peer support counseling records from public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act and makes them inadmissible in criminal or civil proceedings, with exceptions for suicide/homicide threats, required legal reports, child abuse, and criminal admissions.

• Provides comprehensive definitions including "peace officer," "emergency service personnel," "law enforcement agency," and "peer support counseling" for purposes of the statute.