Senate advances bill to let health workers seek counseling outside workplace after suicide of Dr. Scott Jolley

Senators voted to advance First Substitute House Bill 78, a measure intended to expand behavioral-health-treatment access for health-care workers by permitting them to seek counseling outside their employing health system.

Sponsor Sen. Plumb recounted the case of Dr. Scott Jolley, an emergency physician who died by suicide after struggling to find confidential mental-health care while employed by his health system. "This bill would require that patients working in health care settings would be allowed to get counseling ... in settings outside of that which where they work," Plumb said, arguing the change reduces stigma and the risk that clinicians would avoid care because of workplace concerns.

Plumb told the Senate the bill was presented with a favorable recommendation to move to third reading and, after no floor questions, the Senate voted to read the bill a third time (24 ayes, 0 nays, 5 absent). The sponsor waived summation and moved the bill forward.

Provenance

- Sponsor narrative and rationale: SEG 401–427 (personal account and bill intent). - Motion and vote: SEG 443–455 (motion to advance and roll call tally).

What the bill does

According to the sponsor's floor explanation, the bill requires that health-care workers be allowed to access counseling and mental-health services outside of their workplace settings to reduce barriers related to stigma and confidentiality. The transcript does not include full statutory text or appropriation details on the floor.

Next steps

The bill was advanced to third reading for final consideration; further committee or enrollment notes are not in the floor transcript.