Bill > SB1216

This bill amends existing Arizona law to expand the definition of "public safety employee" eligible for traumatic event counseling, specifically including crime scene technicians and digital forensics technicians, while clarifying that peace officers and firefighters are excluded from this expanded definition. The bill also repeals previous laws related to traumatic event counseling, consolidating the provisions into the amended section 38-672 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which mandates that employers provide up to twelve visits of licensed counseling, potentially through telehealth, for public safety employees exposed to specific traumatic events such as witnessing death or maiming, responding to dangerous crimes against children, or requiring rescue in the line of duty where their life was endangered. The existing requirements for employers to collect and report data on program participation, missed work, and workers' compensation claims remain, with exceptions for state employers already offering comparable programs.