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Committee advances bill to extend state EAP access to volunteer firefighters
Summary
Representative Gantt said the bill would give volunteer firefighters confidential, no-cost access to the state Employee Assistance Program (EAP); the committee unanimously moved HB 17,61 to the State and Local Government calendar after brief discussion.
Representative Gantt, sponsor of HB 17,61, told the subcommittee the measure would give volunteer firefighters access to the state's Employee Assistance Program as a no-cost, confidential resource. “This legislation is a simple and cost effective measure that would provide mental health resources to our volunteers by providing access to the state's EAP program, which is the employee assistance program at no cost to the firefighter or the local fire department,” he said.
Committee members voiced support and the bill moved out of committee 6–0 to the State and Local Government calendar. The sponsor said the change would help recruitment and support volunteer firefighters who make up a substantial share of the state's fire service.
