HB 2081 Summary

• Requires Arizona state and political subdivision employers to provide peace officers and firefighters up to 12 covered counseling visits for exposure to traumatic events including witnessing death or maiming, investigating crimes against children, near-death rescue situations, deadly force incidents, or child drowning cases.

• Allows employers to fund up to 36 additional counseling visits within one year if a licensed mental health professional determines they are medically necessary to improve the officer's or firefighter's condition.

• Prohibits employers from requiring peace officers or firefighters to use accrued paid leave when attending counseling visits and guarantees up to 30 days of pay and benefits if the professional determines the employee is unfit for duty after exhausting other leave options.

• Permits peace officers and firefighters to select their own licensed mental health professional, with employers paying according to the industrial commission fee schedule.

• Requires state and political subdivisions to annually report program data to the Department of Administration by September 1, with compiled reports submitted to legislative leadership by October 1, excluding health information privacy-protected data.