,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fff ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bj1 #bjbe,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself and ,mr4 ,hawley7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to increase access to mental health1 substance use1 and counseling services for first responders1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,first ,responders ,wellness ,act4 #b4 ,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 the ,first ,responders ,wellness ,act1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use1 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 and 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-#c2 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 ,national ,domestic ,violence ,hotline1 the #ihh ,suicide and ,crisis ,lifeline1 and the ,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 hotline under subsection 7a72 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 hotline under subsection 7a72 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 the ,first ,responders ,wellness ,act1 the ,secretary shall develop1 in coordination with mental health providers and first responder associations or personnel1 trauma-informed and culturally competent training1 guidance1 and standards for #ihh ,suicide and ,crisis ,lifeline network center personnel on 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 an evaluation of staffing levels necessary to maintain adequate services2 7#c7 a directory of entities or organizations to which staff maintaining the hotline funded under this section may make referrals2 and 7#d7 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 means an individual-- 7,a7 with familiarity with1 and understanding of1 the duties and unique stressors of first responders1 which may include experience working as a first responder2 and 7,b7 who completed a trauma-informed and culturally competent training curriculum developed pursuant to subsection 7c77#d71 or another trauma-informed and culturally competent training curriculum1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 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 or behavioral 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 #c4 ,crisis counseling assistance and training ,section #daf7;a7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eahc7;a77 is amended by inserting and to qualified emergency response providers responding to major disasters after victims of major disasters4 #d4 ,report on on-site services during a national disaster 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use1 shall issue a report on best practices and recommendations to establish a new mobile health care delivery site to provide integrated1 short-term crisis services to qualified emergency response providers of a major disaster4 ,such services shall-- 7#a7 be culturally and linguistically appropriate2 7#b7 be trauma-informed2 and 7#c7 incorporate disaster behavioral interventions4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,major disaster ,the term major disaster has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb74 7#b7 ,major disaster area ,the term major disaster area has the meaning given such term in section #fbe4b of title #bj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7#c7 ,qualified emergency response providers ,the term qualified emergency response providers means-- 7,a7 emergency response providers 7as defined in section #b of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #aja772 and 7,b7 public safety telecommunicators4