Bill > HB180

This bill modifies existing law regarding Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams, which are groups of trained volunteers who provide support and crisis intervention services to emergency responders and public safety workers experiencing significant stress or trauma. The bill clarifies that these teams do not need to be affiliated with a specific municipality and revises training and designation requirements. Under the new provisions, team members must undergo initial training approved by the commissioner of safety, following guidelines from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). The bill introduces a new requirement for a team leader, who must possess strong communication and problem-solving skills and be formally trained in critical incident stress management. The team leader will now have the authority to designate team members, rather than solely relying on police chiefs, sheriffs, or other department heads. Team members can include sworn, civilian, or retired emergency responders, and the team must maintain current training standards. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, providing time for affected organizations to adjust to the new requirements.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0162&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB180