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House committee advances bill to protect confidentiality of first-responder peer support team members
Summary
The House Health & Human Services Committee approved an amendment and voted to advance a bill that removes peer support team members for first responders from DORA regulation and clarifies confidentiality protections, sending the measure to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
A House committee on Feb. 14 approved a measure to clarify confidentiality for peer support team members who assist first responders and moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Representative Amy Armagost, the bill sponsor, told the House Health & Human Services Committee the legislation is intended to “encourage more first responders to be able to communicate with their peer support team members in personal matters or even post-incident matters.” She said the change would allow peers to be “a more reliable and trustworthy peer” for first responders and protect conversations that might lead members to seek treatment rather than “down a spiral” of worsening mental health.
Josh Schultz of the Office of Legislative Legal Services told the committee the committee substitute (strike-below amendment) moves most of the bill’s language out of the Mental Health Practice Act (Title 12, Article 245) and into the common provisions for health-care providers (Article 30). Schultz said that move responded to concerns from the Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) that putting the provisions in the Mental Health Practice Act could have created the impression that peer support team members would be regulated by DORA. “These team members are not subject to licensure certification registration or any other regulation by the division or the department,” Schultz said, describing language included at DORA’s request.
The amendment also adds explicit language extending confidentiality protections to communications that involve an individual’s self-harm. Representative Bradfield and others praised the drafting work and the collaboration with regulators and legislative staff.
After debate closed, Representative Rhett McCormick moved that the committee recommend the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. On a roll call, the committee approved the motion and advanced the bill by an 11-0 vote with two members excused.
What’s next The committee’s action sends the bill to the Committee of the Whole on the House floor. If the House approves it, the bill will proceed through the remaining steps of the legislative process.
Votes at a glance - House Bill 10-87 as amended: advanced to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. Committee vote: 11 yes, 0 no; 2 excused.
