AR HB1505

Public employers must provide coverage for licensed counseling to public safety employees (probation officers, surveillance officers, detention officers, police officers, and firefighters) who experience traumatic events in the line of duty

Coverage includes up to 12 licensed counseling visits per calendar year, with unused visits from sessions beginning July 1 or later carrying over to the next year, capped at 18 visits maximum per year

Traumatic events are defined as exposure to extraordinary bodily injury or death, serious injury/death/abuse of a minor, immediate threats to life, or mass casualty events

Licensed mental health professionals must specialize in trauma and crisis and use evidence-based treatments; counseling may be provided through telehealth

Declared an emergency effective upon Governor's approval (March 25, 2025) to restore coverage that expired January 1, 2025 when Acts 2023, No. 537 sunset