Bill > HB277

This bill expands the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program, which was originally designed for firefighters, to now include rescue squad members. The program provides mental health support through seminar-based peer counseling and is intended to help first responders manage the psychological stress of their demanding work. The bill defines a rescue squad member as an individual who is part of a rescue squad as defined in existing Kentucky law. Key provisions include allowing rescue squad members to participate in the program at least twice per calendar year, establishing confidentiality protections for program participants, and enabling rescue squad members to take up to 48 hours of leave following a critical incident (defined as a highly stressful event like a severe accident or death). The bill requires the Kentucky Fire Commission to establish the program's guidelines and mandates that the Division of Emergency Management enter into an agreement to ensure rescue squad members can access these mental health services. The legislation aims to provide additional mental health support for these emergency service professionals by recognizing the unique psychological challenges they face in their line of work.