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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
REVISED
traumatic event counseling
Purpose
Eliminates the delayed repeal dates on traumatic event counseling for peace officers, firefighters, 911 dispatchers and public safety employees and includes crime scene and digital forensics technicians as public safety employees.
Background
The State of Arizona or a political subdivision of the state must establish a program to provide public safety employees who are exposed to specified traumatic events while on duty up to 12 visits of licensed counseling, which may be provided through telehealth, paid for by the employer. A public safety employee who is eligible for traumatic event counseling is a member of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System or Corrections Officer Retirement Plan, a probation, surveillance or juvenile detention officer who is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state or a 911 dispatcher in a primary or secondary public safety answering point. Public safety employee does not include peace officers or firefighters (A.R.S. § 38-672).
The State of Arizona or a political subdivision of the state must also establish a program to provide peace officers, firefighters and 911 dispatchers who are exposed to specified traumatic events while on duty up to 12 visits of licensed counseling, which may be provided through telehealth, paid for by the employer (A.R.S. § 38-673).
Traumatic event counseling for public safety employees and for peace officers, firefighters and 911 dispatchers are set to repeal on January 1, 2027 (Laws 2022, Ch. 377).
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) fiscal note estimates that S.B. 1216 will not have a fiscal impact on the state since the state currently offers this type of counseling. However, JLBC estimates that there would likely be local impacts since not all cities and counties offer traumatic event counseling (JLBC Fiscal Note).
Provisions
1. Removes the delayed repeal date of January 1, 2027, on traumatic event counseling for public safety employees and for peace officers, firefighters and 911 dispatchers.
2. Broadens the definition of public safety employee to include crime scene technicians and digital forensics technicians.
3. Makes conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Revisions
ˇ Updates the fiscal impact statement.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2026
KJA/KM/hk