Bill Text: IL HB5485 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. Provides that peer support advisors shall also receive appropriate training in identifying the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and to respond appropriately to individuals exhibiting those symptoms. Provides that "post-traumatic stress disorder" has the meaning defined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board in its implementation of its training in post-traumatic stress disorder under the Illinois Police Training Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5485 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB5485-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB5485 Introduced , by Rep. Bradley Stephens SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
5 ILCS 840/5
5 ILCS 840/10
Amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. Provides that peer support advisors shall also receive appropriate training in identifying the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and to respond appropriately to individuals exhibiting those symptoms. Provides that "post-traumatic stress disorder" has the meaning defined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board in its implementation of its training in post-traumatic stress disorder under the Illinois Police Training Act.
LRB101 18254 RLC 67698 b
A BILL FOR
HB5485 LRB101 18254 RLC 67698 b
AN ACT concerning government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The First Responders Suicide Prevention Act is
amended by changing Sections 5 and 10 as follows:
(5 ILCS 840/5)
Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Emergency services provider" means any public employer
that employs persons to provide firefighting services.
"Emergency services personnel" means any employee of an
emergency services provider who is engaged in providing
firefighting services.
"Law enforcement agency" means any county sheriff,
municipal police department, police department established by
a university, the Department of State Police, the Department of
Corrections, the Department of Children and Family Services,
the Division of Probation Services of the Supreme Court, the
Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, and other local or
county agency comprised of county probation officers,
corrections employees, or 9-1-1 telecommunicators or emergency
medical dispatchers.
"Peer support advisor" means an employee, approved by the
law enforcement agency or the emergency provider, who

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voluntarily provides confidential support and assistance to
fellow employees experiencing personal or professional
problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder. An
emergency services provider or law enforcement agency shall
provide peer support advisors with an appropriate level of
training in counseling to provide emotional and moral support.
"Peer support counseling program" means a program
established by an emergency services provider, a law
enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization to
train employees to serve as peer support advisors to conduct
peer support counseling sessions.
"Peer support counseling session" means communication with
a peer support advisor designated by an emergency services
provider or law enforcement agency. A peer support counseling
session is accomplished primarily through listening,
assessing, assisting with problem-solving, making referrals to
a professional when necessary and conducting follow-up as
needed.
"Post-traumatic stress disorder" has the meaning defined
by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board in its
implementation of Section 10.13 of the Illinois Police Training
Act.
"Public safety personnel" means any employee of a law
enforcement agency.
(Source: P.A. 101-375, eff. 8-16-19.)

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(5 ILCS 840/10)
Sec. 10. Establishment of peer support program;
applicability. Any emergency services provider, law
enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization that
creates a peer support program is subject to this Act. An
emergency services provider, law enforcement agency, or
collective bargaining organization shall ensure that peer
support advisors receive appropriate training in counseling to
conduct peer support counseling sessions. Peer support
advisors shall also receive appropriate training in
identifying the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and
to respond appropriately to individuals exhibiting those
symptoms. Emergency services personnel and public safety
personnel may refer any person to a peer support advisor within
the emergency services provider or law enforcement agency, or
if those services are not available within the agency, to
another peer support counseling program that is available and
approved by the emergency services provider or law enforcement
agency. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, public
safety personnel may not mandate that any employee participate
in a peer support counseling program.
(Source: P.A. 101-375, eff. 8-16-19.)