The proposed bill would amend current statutes by allowing law enforcement agencies in Arizona to establish wellness programs aimed at supporting the mental health and well-being of their employees. This includes provisions for access to mental health counseling, crisis counseling, necessary training and equipment, and other support systems. Agencies that create such programs would be required to establish written policies and procedures. Additionally, the bill introduces confidentiality protections for all proceedings and records related to the wellness program, with specific exceptions for disclosures related to threats of suicide, harm to others, child abuse, criminal conduct, or other legally mandated disclosures.

Furthermore, the bill allows for the establishment of peer support counseling programs to assist public safety employees who have experienced traumatic events. It mandates that communications within these peer support sessions remain confidential, with similar exceptions for disclosures as outlined in the wellness program. The bill also defines key terms such as "peer support communication," "peer support counseling session," and "peer support specialist," and asserts that peer support communications are protected under the same privilege as attorney-client communications. Overall, the bill aims to enhance mental health support for public safety employees while ensuring confidentiality and establishing clear guidelines for program implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-1121, 41-710.04, 13-3620, 46-454