FL S0314

Employing agencies must pay for up to 12 hours of licensed mental health counseling for first responders, correctional officers, and correctional probation officers who experience qualifying traumatic events in the course of employment, with up to 24 additional hours available if a mental health professional determines further counseling is needed.

All counseling hours must be completed within 1 year of the first visit, may be provided in person or via telehealth, and are separate from any existing employer-sponsored health plan or group health insurance benefits.

Employing agencies may not require employees to use accrued annual, vacation, personal, or sick leave for counseling sessions scheduled during established work hours.

Payment for counseling is capped at $500 per hour and does not create a presumption that the employee suffered a compensable occupational disease under workers' compensation law.

Beginning March 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, employing agencies must report to the Chief Financial Officer on program participation, including total participants by category, average visits, average months of participation, subsequent workers' compensation claims filed, and employees receiving additional hours beyond the initial 12.