,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjbd,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself and ,mr4 ,hawley7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh to establish a grant program for first responder mental health and wellness1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,the ,first ,responders ,wellness ,act4 #b4 ,grant program ,section #agja of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcha7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7q7 ,mental health demonstration program 7#a7 ,demonstration program ,upon an approved application by the ,attorney ,general under paragraph 7#c71 an eligible entity may use amounts from a grant under subsection 7a7 to carry out a mental health service professional demonstration program to-- 7,a7 provide culturally competent1 confidential1 and independent mental health services to law enforcement officers2 and 7,b7 increase the number of culturally competent mental health services providers available to law enforcement officers4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in carrying out this subsection1 the ,attorney ,general shall consult with the ,secretary of ,education and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#c7 ,applications 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity seeking to use amounts from a grant to carry out a demonstration program described in this subsection shall submit to the ,attorney ,general an application at such time and in such manner as the ,attorney ,general may reasonably require4 7,b7 ,priority ,in reviewing applications received from eligible entities under this paragraph1 the ,attorney ,general shall give priority to-- 7i7 eligible entities planning a partnership with an institution of higher education for the purposes of placing graduate students with law enforcement officers to complete required field work1 credit hours1 internships1 or related training as applicable for the degree1 license1 or credential program of each graduate student2 7ii7 eligible entities that are located in rural areas2 and 7iii7 eligible entities that demonstrate programmatic infrastructure to ensure that the demonstration program carried out by the eligible entity under this subsection will provide mental health services independent of the leadership or management of law enforcement agencies4 7#d7 ,confidentiality requirements ,any mental health services provider providing services to a law enforcement officer under the demonstration program described in this subsection-- 7,a7 shall adhere to strict confidentiality responsibilities2 and 7,b7 may not share with the leadership or management of a law enforcement agency any identifiable information of a law enforcement officer resulting from the provision of mental health programs1 counseling1 or services4 7#e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,attorney ,general #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjca to carry out this subsection4 7#f7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,consortium ,the term consortium means a partnership that-- 7i7 includes not less than #a ,federal1 ,state1 or local law enforcement agency2 and 7ii7 may include-- 7,i7 a unit of local government2 7,,ii7 an institution of higher education2 7,,iii7 a first responder union2 7,,iv7 a benevolent association2 and 7,v7 a law enforcement professional association4 7,b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a ,state1 unit of local government1 ,indian tribal government1 law enforcement agency1 or multi-jurisdictional or regional consortium that receives a grant under subsection 7a74 7,c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7,d7 ,law enforcement officer ,the term law enforcement officer-- 7i7 has the meaning given the term in section #abjd2 and 7ii7 includes-- 7,i7 a public safety telecommunicator1 including #iaa operators and fire dispatchers2 and 7,,ii7 a retired law enforcement officer4 7,e7 ,mental health services provider ,the term mental health service provider-- 7i7 includes a ,state-licensed or ,state-certified counselor1 trauma counselor1 psychologist1 or other ,state-licensed or certified mental health professional who is qualified under ,state law to provide mental health services2 and 7ii7 may include an individual who is-- 7,i7 enrolled in a graduate program2 and 7,,ii7 under the supervision of an individual described in clause 7i74 4 #c4 ,first responders mental health hotline ,part ,p of title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhj;g et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cii,v-#h4 ,first responders mental health hotline 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,administration1 shall maintain1 directly or by contract or grant1 a national first responders emergency hotline to provide peer and emotional support1 information1 brief intervention1 and mental or behavioral health and substance use disorder resources and referrals to first responders and to their families or household members4 7b7 ,requirements for hotline ,the hotline established under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 operate as a separate1 widely recognizable number with bidirectional transfer options with the #ihh ,suicide and ,crisis ,lifeline established pursuant to section #ebj;,e-#c of this ,act2 7#b7 provide toll-free1 real-time1 live assistance #bd_/g2 7#c7 provide voice and text support2 7#d7 be sufficiently staffed by1 at a minimum1 culturally competent first responder peer specialists or first responder mental health services providers who have distinct knowledge of1 and are trained on-- 7,a7 the essential functions of first responders and public safety organizations2 7,b7 the working conditions unique to first responders2 7,c7 common and novel stressors inherent in public safety and emergency response work2 7,d7 normal and abnormal adaptation to occupational stress and trauma2 and 7,e7 the unique aspects of confidentiality and testimonial privilege2 and 7#e7 provide peer support1 mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder assistance1 and referral services to meet the needs of first responders and family members or household members at risk of experiencing mental or behavioral health or substance use disorders4 7c7 ,additional requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,in maintaining the hotline under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 consult with the ,domestic ,violence ,hotline1 ,national ,suicide ,prevention ,lifeline1 and ,veterans ,crisis ,line to ensure that first responders are connected in real-time to the appropriate specialized hotline service1 when applicable2 7,b7 conduct a public awareness campaign for the hotline2 7,c7 consult with ,federal departments and agencies1 including the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration and the ,department of ,justice1 to increase awareness regarding the hotline2 and 7,d7 consult with organizations that operate existing crisis or peer support hotlines for first responders with respect to best practices for operating such hotlines4 7#b7 ,existing hotlines ,the ,secretary or an entity receiving a grant or contract under subsection 7a71 as applicable1 shall form partnerships between the existing national first responders mental health hotline and other first responder helplines and websites4 7#c7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary shall ensure that calls from public safety personnel received through the #ihh ,suicide and ,crisis ,lifeline are appropriately referred to the hotline under subsection 7a74 7#d7 ,training curriculum ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall develop1 in coordination with mental health providers and first responder associations or personnel1 trauma-informed1 culturally competent training for #ihh ,suicide and ,crisis ,lifeline network centers for the purposes of informing all #ihh ,suicide and ,crisis ,lifeline personnel about the unique concerns1 resources1 linkages1 and stressors of first responders4 7d7 ,annual report ,the ,secretary shall submit an annual report to ,congress on the hotline under subsection 7a7 and implementation of this section1 including-- 7#a7 an evaluation of the effectiveness of activities conducted or supported under subsection 7a72 7#b7 a directory of entities or organizations to which staff maintaining the hotline funded under this section may make referrals2 and 7#c7 such additional information as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,culturally competent first responder peer specialist ,the term culturally competent first responder peer specialist may include an individual with familiarity with1 and understanding of1 the duties and unique stressors of first responders1 which may include experience working as a first responder4 7#b7 ,first responder ,the term first responder-- 7,a7 means-- 7i7 a law enforcement officer1 firefighter1 or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew 7as such terms are defined in section #abjd of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh72 or 7ii7 a public safety telecommunicator1 including #i-a-a operators and dispatchers2 and 7,b7 includes a retired first responder4 7#c7 ,first responder mental health services provider ,the term first responder mental health services provider includes a ,state-licensed or ,state-certified counselor1 trauma counselor1 psychologist or other ,state licensed or certified mental health professional who-- 7,a7 is qualified under ,state law to provide mental health services2 and 7,b7 has a familiarity with and understanding of the duties and unique stressors of first responders4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjca4 4