House adopts confidentiality protections for peer support members who assist first responders

The Colorado House on Feb. 26 approved House Bill 10-87, a measure extending confidentiality protections to certified peer-support members who provide one-on-one mental health support to first responders.

Representative Armagost, sponsor of the bill, said the measure was drafted after discussions with a staff psychologist at the Larimer County Sheriff's Office and aims to align peer-support confidentiality with that afforded to mental-health providers. "Peer support members are there to be a good listener...and this will put them in the statute with mental health providers where they would have that same...confidentiality," Armagost told the House.

The bill originally included language referencing "group peer support services;" sponsors removed that language by amendment L4 to make the protection specific to one-on-one peer support and to add regulatory protections for matters outside peer support services. Amendment L4 was adopted and the Health and Human Services committee report was approved; the bill passed on second reading by voice vote.

Representative Byrd, co-prime sponsor, praised the bill's balance of protections for those seeking help and for peer-support members. Sponsors said carve-outs remain for disclosure when required by law, such as threats to safety or criminal activity, consistent with existing confidentiality frameworks.

Supporters argued the change would encourage more first responders to use peer support by assuring statutory confidentiality. No recorded opposition was noted in the transcript during floor consideration.