West Bill Builds Peer Support Network For Firefighters And Police

The text as introduced · 675 words

89R15497 EAS-D

By: West
S.B. No. 2555

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a first responder peer support network for certain

firefighters and law enforcement personnel.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 115 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 115. FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT NETWORK

Sec. 115.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Law enforcement officer" means a person

identified as a peace officer under Article 2A.001(1), (2), (3), or

(4), Code of Criminal Procedure.

(2) "Peer" means a person who is:

(A) a firefighter or retired firefighter; or

(B) a law enforcement officer or retired law

enforcement officer.

(3) "Peer support network" means the first responder

peer support network for firefighters and law enforcement officers

established under this chapter.

Sec. 115.002. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Texas

Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Commission on Law

Enforcement shall jointly develop a first responder peer support

network for firefighters and law enforcement officers. The network

must include:

(1) peer-to-peer support;

(2) training for peer service coordinators and peers

that incorporates suicide prevention training;

(3) technical assistance for program development and

the provision of technical assistance to peer service coordinators,

licensed mental health professionals, and peers; and

(4) identification, retention, and screening of

licensed mental health professionals.

(b) The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement shall ensure firefighters and law

enforcement officers are provided support through the peer support

network in both urban and rural jurisdictions.

(c) The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement shall solicit and ensure the

provision of specialized training to peers who want to provide

peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer services under the peer

support network.

(d) The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement may adopt rules necessary to

implement this chapter.

Sec. 115.003. CONTRACT WITH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER

EDUCATION. The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement may contract with an institution of

higher education in this state that has appropriate expertise in

mental health, firefighting, or law enforcement to develop the peer

support network.

Sec. 115.004. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PARTICIPANT INFORMATION.

Information relating to a firefighter's or law enforcement

officer's participation in peer-to-peer support and other

peer-to-peer services under the peer support network is

confidential and may not be disclosed under Chapter 552, Government

Code, by:

(1) the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement;

(2) a fire department that employs a firefighter

participant;

(3) a law enforcement agency that employs a law

enforcement officer participant; or

(4) any other state agency or political subdivision in

this state that employs a firefighter or law enforcement officer

participant.

Sec. 115.005. LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION PROTECTIONS. A

firefighter's or law enforcement officer's participation in

peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer services under the peer

support network may not:

(1) serve as the basis for a revocation, suspension,

or denial of a license or certification; or

(2) be considered in any proceeding related to the

firefighter's certification or the officer's licensure.

Sec. 115.006. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of

each year, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement shall jointly prepare and submit to

the governor and the legislature a written report that includes:

(1) the number of firefighters and law enforcement

officers who received peer support through the peer support

network;

(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators

trained;

(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this

chapter; and

(4) recommendations for program improvements.

SECTION 2. Subchapter M-1, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,

is repealed.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas

Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Commission on Law

Enforcement shall develop the first responder peer support network

for firefighters and law enforcement officers required by Chapter

115, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.