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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
mental health professionals; trauma counseling
Purpose
Expands the definition of licensed mental health professional as it relates to the Traumatic Event Counseling Program (Program).
Background
The Program was established by the Legislature in 2016 to provide up to 12 employer-paid counseling visits to peace officers, firefighters and public safety employees who have been exposed to certain events (Laws 2016, Chapter 240). A public safety employee includes probation officers, surveillance officers, juvenile detention officers and members of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System or Corrections Officer Retirement Plan. Qualifying events for Program treatment vary based on profession. For example, peace officers who are exposed to the use of deadly force or subjected to deadly force in the line of duty are eligible for Program participation as are firefighters who witness the death of another firefighter while engaged in the line of duty. In order to be eligible for the Program the employee must have: 1) visually witnessed the death or maiming of a human being, or witnessed its immediate aftermath; 2) been directly involved in a criminal investigation of a dangerous crime against a child; or 3) required rescue in the line of duty while endangered. The Program is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2023 (A.R.S. § 38-672).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Expands the definition of licensed mental health professional as it relates to the Program to necessitate that the individual specializes in trauma and crisis and uses evidence-based treatment options.
2. Includes an individual who holds a master's degree or doctoral degree related to the mental health profession as a permissible mental health professional for providing Program-related counseling.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 25, 2021
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