Bill > HB676

This bill establishes the First Responder Resilience Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to provide competitive grants to first responder organizations to help support the mental health and wellness of their personnel. The program will allow first responder organizations to apply for grants to defray personnel costs associated with embedding "resilience coaches" - mental health professionals who provide evidence-based tools to help first responders manage stress, trauma, and the unique challenges of their work. These tools may include peer mentoring, mental health training, integrative medicine techniques, suicide prevention, and support services for first responders and their families. The bill creates a dedicated non-lapsing fund to support the program, which can receive money from various sources including state appropriations, federal funds, and private donations. PEMA will be responsible for developing the application process, reviewing grant applications, distributing funds on a first-come, first-served basis, and publishing annual reports detailing the program's activities, including the number of organizations that applied for and received grants. The program aims to provide critical mental health support to first responders who face high-stress and potentially traumatic work environments.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=676