The proposed legislation, known as the Emergency Service Peer Support Act, aims to establish a framework for providing emotional and moral support to employees of emergency service agencies, such as law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services. The Act recognizes the stress and emotional challenges faced by these employees due to the traumatic nature of their work and emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in peer support sessions. It defines key terms such as "employee," "emergency service agency," "peer," and "peer support," and outlines the structure and purpose of peer support programs, which include one-on-one interactions, crisis interventions, and referrals to mental health resources.

Additionally, the Act stipulates that communications made during peer support sessions are confidential and privileged, meaning they cannot be disclosed in legal proceedings, with certain exceptions for threats of harm or mandated reporting. It also provides immunity from civil liability for peers assisting employees in good faith and requires emergency service agencies to develop policies to enforce confidentiality. Importantly, participation in peer support programs is voluntary, allowing employees to seek support independently without coercion from their agencies.