Substitute House Bill No. 7069 amends existing law to enhance the requirements for periodic behavioral health assessments of police officers, mandating that these assessments occur at least once every five years. The assessments must be conducted by board-certified psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, or licensed clinical social workers approved by the police officers' union. The bill also allows the administrative head of each law enforcement unit to mandate additional assessments for good cause and requires new hires from other jurisdictions to undergo an assessment within six months of their hiring.

Key changes in the bill include the prohibition of providers from accessing or requesting a police officer's medical records through electronic health record systems during the assessment, as well as the stipulation that assessment results will not evaluate the officer's physical fitness for duty. Furthermore, the results and related records from these assessments are protected from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, ensuring confidentiality. The bill introduces new legal language that restricts the inclusion of certain information in a police officer's medical record, allowing it to be used or shared only as specified in the bill. The legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and has no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-291e
INS Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-291e
File No. 465: 7-291e