BILL #    SB 1216	TITLE: traumatic event counseling
SPONSOR:    Payne	STATUS: Introduced
PREPARED BY:    Jordan Johnston

Description

The introduced version of SB 1216 would add crime scene technicians and digital forensic technicians to the list of employees eligible to receive traumatic event counseling.  The bill further removes the repeal date for the traumatic event counseling program.

Estimated Impact

We estimate that the bill will not have a fiscal impact on the state since the state currently offers this type of counseling.  There would likely be local impacts since not all cities and counties appear to offer this type of counseling.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) estimates this bill will have a minimal fiscal impact on the department.

Analysis

Our estimate assumes the following:

1) According to a 2025 report from the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), the state currently offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides at least 12 visits per year for licensed counseling services for all public safety employees.  Any crime scene technicians and digital forensic technicians employed by the state are currently eligible to receive counseling services via the EAP.

2) A May 2024 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that Arizona has 880 "forensic science technician" jobs.  We assume this number reflects the total number of crime scene technicians and digital forensic technicians eligible for the traumatic event counseling under the bill.

- AZPOST estimates that there are approximately 14,600 peace officers in the state.  Of that amount, approximately 2,000 peace officers are employed by the state.  As such, we assume that local governments represent 86% of all public safety employees in the state.  This equates to about 757 of the total 880 forensic science technician jobs in Arizona.

- According to the 2025 ADOA report, 35% of local government respondents to the ADOA survey stated that their public safety employees participated in the traumatic counseling services program.  As a result, a sizeable number of local governments would have to fund this service for the first time.  We have insufficient information, however, to estimate a local cost estimate.   

2/5/26