HB5485 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 18254 RLC 67698 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5485

Introduced , by Rep. Bradley Stephens

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 840/5
5 ILCS 840/10

Amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. Provides that peer support advisors shall also receive appropriate training in identifying the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and to respond appropriately to individuals exhibiting those symptoms. Provides that "post-traumatic stress disorder" has the meaning defined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board in its implementation of its training in post-traumatic stress disorder under the Illinois Police Training Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The First Responders Suicide Prevention Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 10 as follows:

(5 ILCS 840/5)

Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Emergency services provider" means any public employer that employs persons to provide firefighting services.

"Emergency services personnel" means any employee of an emergency services provider who is engaged in providing firefighting services.

"Law enforcement agency" means any county sheriff, municipal police department, police department established by a university, the Department of State Police, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Division of Probation Services of the Supreme Court, the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, and other local or county agency comprised of county probation officers, corrections employees, or 9-1-1 telecommunicators or emergency medical dispatchers.

"Peer support advisor" means an employee, approved by the law enforcement agency or the emergency provider, who voluntarily provides confidential support and assistance to fellow employees experiencing personal or professional problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder. An emergency services provider or law enforcement agency shall provide peer support advisors with an appropriate level of training in counseling to provide emotional and moral support.

"Peer support counseling program" means a program established by an emergency services provider, a law enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization to train employees to serve as peer support advisors to conduct peer support counseling sessions.

"Peer support counseling session" means communication with a peer support advisor designated by an emergency services provider or law enforcement agency. A peer support counseling session is accomplished primarily through listening, assessing, assisting with problem-solving, making referrals to a professional when necessary and conducting follow-up as needed.

"Post-traumatic stress disorder" has the meaning defined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board in its implementation of Section 10.13 of the Illinois Police Training Act.

"Public safety personnel" means any employee of a law enforcement agency.

(Source: P.A. 101-375, eff. 8-16-19.)

(5 ILCS 840/10)

Sec. 10. Establishment of peer support program; applicability. Any emergency services provider, law enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization that creates a peer support program is subject to this Act. An emergency services provider, law enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization shall ensure that peer support advisors receive appropriate training in counseling to conduct peer support counseling sessions. Peer support advisors shall also receive appropriate training in identifying the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and to respond appropriately to individuals exhibiting those symptoms. Emergency services personnel and public safety personnel may refer any person to a peer support advisor within the emergency services provider or law enforcement agency, or if those services are not available within the agency, to another peer support counseling program that is available and approved by the emergency services provider or law enforcement agency. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, public safety personnel may not mandate that any employee participate in a peer support counseling program.

(Source: P.A. 101-375, eff. 8-16-19.)