Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the First Responder Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate adopts conference report on peer counseling for first responders; bill advances
Summary
A conference committee substitute for House Bill 13 creating peer counseling and support protections for first responders was adopted by the Senate after unanimous committee report adoption; sponsor described testimonial privilege for peer counselors and the bill was placed for final passage.
A joint conference committee reported a substitute for House Bill 13 addressing public safety peer counseling provisions; Senator Thatcher and Representative Perry were listed as the committee sponsors.
Senator Thatcher told the chamber the bill creates peer‑support and counseling services for first responders, allowing them to speak with trained peers who understand the emotional and traumatic contexts of emergency work. He said peer counselors would be granted privilege from having to testify against people who sought help in confidence, which supporters argued would encourage help‑seeking and reduce untreated trauma among police, fire and EMS personnel.
Senators adopted the conference committee report unanimously and then moved the bill forward on third reading. The motion to pass the first substitute of House Bill 13 was made and carried; the text was placed at the top of the third reading calendar and then proceeded to final passage as announced on the floor.
Supporters highlighted personal stories of troopers and first responders who struggled with post‑traumatic stress and said peer counseling fills a gap where clinical services alone did not meet the needs of crisis‑exposed personnel. The transcript does not include a detailed roll‑call tally for final passage in the excerpt; the clerk announced the bill would be returned to the House for further processing following Senate action.
