118 S4892 IS: The First Responders Wellness Act
U.S. Senate
2024-07-31
text/xml
EN
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II
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4892
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 31, 2024
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Hawley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a grant program for first responder mental health and wellness, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “The First Responders Wellness Act”.
2.

Grant program
Section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(q)

Mental health demonstration program
(1)

Demonstration program
Upon an approved application by the Attorney General under paragraph (3), an eligible entity may use amounts from a grant under subsection (a) to carry out a mental health service professional demonstration program to—
(A)
provide culturally competent, confidential, and independent mental health services to law enforcement officers; and
(B)
increase the number of culturally competent mental health services providers available to law enforcement officers.
(2)

Consultation
In carrying out this subsection, the Attorney General shall consult with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(3)

Applications
(A)

In general
An eligible entity seeking to use amounts from a grant to carry out a demonstration program described in this subsection shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time and in such manner as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
(B)

Priority
In reviewing applications received from eligible entities under this paragraph, the Attorney General shall give priority to—
(i)
eligible entities planning a partnership with an institution of higher education for the purposes of placing graduate students with law enforcement officers to complete required field work, credit hours, internships, or related training as applicable for the degree, license, or credential program of each graduate student;
(ii)
eligible entities that are located in rural areas; and
(iii)
eligible entities that demonstrate programmatic infrastructure to ensure that the demonstration program carried out by the eligible entity under this subsection will provide mental health services independent of the leadership or management of law enforcement agencies.
(4)

Confidentiality requirements
Any mental health services provider providing services to a law enforcement officer under the demonstration program described in this subsection—
(A)
shall adhere to strict confidentiality responsibilities; and
(B)
may not share with the leadership or management of a law enforcement agency any identifiable information of a law enforcement officer resulting from the provision of mental health programs, counseling, or services.
(5)

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2031 to carry out this subsection.
(6)

Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)

Consortium
The term consortium means a partnership that—
(i)
includes not less than 1 Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency; and
(ii)
may include—
(I)
a unit of local government;
(II)
an institution of higher education;
(III)
a first responder union;
(IV)
a benevolent association; and
(V)
a law enforcement professional association.
(B)

Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means a State, unit of local government, Indian tribal government, law enforcement agency, or multi-jurisdictional or regional consortium that receives a grant under subsection (a).
(C)

Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(D)

Law enforcement officer
The term law enforcement officer—
(i)
has the meaning given the term in section 1204; and
(ii)
includes—
(I)
a public safety telecommunicator, including 911 operators and fire dispatchers; and
(II)
a retired law enforcement officer.
(E)

Mental health services provider
The term mental health service provider—
(i)
includes a State-licensed or State-certified counselor, trauma counselor, psychologist, or other State-licensed or certified mental health professional who is qualified under State law to provide mental health services; and
(ii)
may include an individual who is—
(I)
enrolled in a graduate program; and
(II)
under the supervision of an individual described in clause (i).”.
3.

First responders mental health hotline
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“399V–8.

First responders mental health hotline
(a)

In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, shall maintain, directly or by contract or grant, a national first responders emergency hotline to provide peer and emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental or behavioral health and substance use disorder resources and referrals to first responders and to their families or household members.
(b)

Requirements for hotline
The hotline established under subsection (a) shall—
(1)
operate as a separate, widely recognizable number with bidirectional transfer options with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline established pursuant to section 520E–3 of this Act;
(2)
provide toll-free, real-time, live assistance 24/7;
(3)
provide voice and text support;
(4)
be sufficiently staffed by, at a minimum, culturally competent first responder peer specialists or first responder mental health services providers who have distinct knowledge of, and are trained on—
(A)
the essential functions of first responders and public safety organizations;
(B)
the working conditions unique to first responders;
(C)
common and novel stressors inherent in public safety and emergency response work;
(D)
normal and abnormal adaptation to occupational stress and trauma; and
(E)
the unique aspects of confidentiality and testimonial privilege; and
(5)
provide peer support, mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder assistance, and referral services to meet the needs of first responders and family members or household members at risk of experiencing mental or behavioral health or substance use disorders.
(c)

Additional requirements
(1)

In general
In maintaining the hotline under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(A)
consult with the Domestic Violence Hotline, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Veterans Crisis Line to ensure that first responders are connected in real-time to the appropriate specialized hotline service, when applicable;
(B)
conduct a public awareness campaign for the hotline;
(C)
consult with Federal departments and agencies, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Justice, to increase awareness regarding the hotline; and
(D)
consult with organizations that operate existing crisis or peer support hotlines for first responders with respect to best practices for operating such hotlines.
(2)

Existing hotlines
The Secretary or an entity receiving a grant or contract under subsection (a), as applicable, shall form partnerships between the existing national first responders mental health hotline and other first responder helplines and websites.
(3)

Coordination
The Secretary shall ensure that calls from public safety personnel received through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are appropriately referred to the hotline under subsection (a).
(4)

Training curriculum
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop, in coordination with mental health providers and first responder associations or personnel, trauma-informed, culturally competent training for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline network centers for the purposes of informing all 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline personnel about the unique concerns, resources, linkages, and stressors of first responders.
(d)

Annual report
The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress on the hotline under subsection (a) and implementation of this section, including—
(1)
an evaluation of the effectiveness of activities conducted or supported under subsection (a);
(2)
a directory of entities or organizations to which staff maintaining the hotline funded under this section may make referrals; and
(3)
such additional information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(e)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Culturally competent first responder peer specialist
The term culturally competent first responder peer specialist may include an individual with familiarity with, and understanding of, the duties and unique stressors of first responders, which may include experience working as a first responder.
(2)

First responder
The term first responder—
(A)
means—
(i)
a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew (as such terms are defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968); or
(ii)
a public safety telecommunicator, including 9–1–1 operators and dispatchers; and
(B)
includes a retired first responder.
(3)

First responder mental health services provider
The term first responder mental health services provider includes a State-licensed or State-certified counselor, trauma counselor, psychologist or other State licensed or certified mental health professional who—
(A)
is qualified under State law to provide mental health services; and
(B)
has a familiarity with and understanding of the duties and unique stressors of first responders.
(f)

Authorization of appropriations
To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2031.”.