Bill > HB1705

This bill establishes a first responders support fund to help small communities and volunteer emergency service providers access the state's employee assistance program (EAP), which provides comprehensive support services including mental health resources. The fund will specifically cover enrollment costs for communities with five or fewer full-time paid first responders, and will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. The department will develop guidelines for program enrollment, ensure first responders can access support services (particularly for post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress), and submit an annual report to the legislature detailing program usage and outcomes. The bill appropriates $1 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to support the program, with the potential to accept additional funding through gifts, grants, donations, and other monetary contributions. The fund is designed as a non-lapsing special account, meaning unspent funds will roll over from year to year, and the program is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. The fiscal note indicates that while the initial appropriation is minimal, the department anticipates needing to create a new position to manage the expanded EAP services, with estimated annual costs ranging from $114,000 to $121,000.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1594&inflect=2