House Bill 1761, also known as Senate Bill 2216, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance support for public safety employees, particularly those in volunteer fire departments. A significant addition is the establishment of access to the state's employee assistance program for all active members of volunteer and combination fire departments, with the state covering all associated costs. This program aims to provide counseling and support for personal concerns that may impact job performance, including mental health and wellness issues.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing regulations. It removes the requirement for certain determinations to be made by the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System and eliminates the stipulation that notifications must be sent by certified mail. It also introduces a new requirement for fire departments to submit a detailed list of active members with their applications, which may need to be updated more frequently for departments involved in state programs. Furthermore, the term "full-time" is replaced with "full-time or part-time" in relation to employee classifications. The provisions in Sections 1 and 5 will take effect on January 1, 2027, while the other sections will become law immediately.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-102-304(2), 68-102-304, 68-102-304(4), 8-50-119(b)(3), 8-50-119