This bill establishes a First Responders Support Fund to facilitate the enrollment of first responders from small communities into the state-provided Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The fund will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and will cover costs for first responders from communities with volunteer fire departments or those with no more than five full-time paid responders. The bill outlines eligibility criteria, enrollment processes, and mandates the DHHS to submit an annual report detailing fund usage and program outcomes. Additionally, it includes an appropriation of $150,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to support these initiatives.

The bill amends existing law by inserting new sections into RSA 281, specifically 281-A:17-g and 281-A:17-h, which detail the establishment of the fund and the eligibility and enrollment processes for first responders. It also adds a new subparagraph to RSA 6:12, I(b) to account for the moneys deposited in the newly established fund. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to provide essential support services, including those for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to first responders in small communities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12