SB 1220 Summary

• Requires state and political subdivisions to provide peace officers and firefighters exposed to traumatic events up to 12 visits of licensed counseling paid by employer, with counseling available via telemedicine.

• Traumatic events include witnessing death or serious injury, investigating crimes against children, life-threatening rescues, using or being subjected to deadly force, witnessing colleague deaths, and child drowning investigations.

• Licensed mental health professionals may authorize up to 24 additional counseling visits within one year if deemed necessary to improve the officer's or firefighter's condition.

• Employers must allow peace officers and firefighters to select their own licensed mental health professional and cannot require use of accrued leave for treatment visits; provides up to 30 days of paid leave if employee deemed unfit for duty by mental health professional.

• Defines "licensed mental health professional" as psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed mental health professionals with master's or doctoral degrees, or mental health nurse practitioners/psychiatric clinical nurse specialists who specialize in trauma with evidence-based treatment approaches.