Bill > HB1505

This bill requires public employers to provide licensed counseling coverage for public safety employees who have experienced a traumatic event. The bill defines specific terms such as "public safety employee" (which includes police officers, firefighters, probation officers, and detention officers), "traumatic event" (such as extraordinary bodily injury, serious harm to a minor, immediate life threats, or mass casualty incidents), and "licensed mental health professional" (including psychiatrists, psychologists, and other qualified mental health practitioners). Under the bill, public employers must cover up to twelve counseling visits per calendar year, with the possibility of carrying over unused visits, and the total visits cannot exceed eighteen in a single year. The counseling can be provided through telehealth, and the public employer will pay for the sessions, not exceeding the deductibles of the employee's current health benefit plan. Public safety employees have the right to choose their licensed mental health professional, and the employer must create or participate in a program that meets these counseling requirements. The bill includes an emergency clause, emphasizing the importance of mental health support for public safety employees who experience traumatic events in the line of duty, and is designed to ensure continuous mental health coverage for these critical workers.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1505&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R