The Washington State Senate passed HB 2311 ahead of Friday’s cutoff.

The current version of the bill includes:

• A task force on first responder wellness in the state.
• A 40-hour training program for first responder peer supporters, a cultural competency training for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) professionals, a first responder peer support network, and a directory of mental health and SUD professionals.
• A grant program to provide funding for the implementation or expansion of first responder peer support services.
• Modified statutory provisions related to peer support services and the testimonial privilege for related communications.

Washington House of Representatives passes first responder wellness and peer support bill

February 15, 2024

The House passed, nearly unanimously, HB 2311 supporting first responder wellness and providing peer support to first responders.

The bill sponsor introduced a striking amendment that:

• Expands the definition of “first responder” to include coroners and medical examiners and requires the task force to develop and publish model policies for peer support services tailored to coroners and medical examiners, in addition to model policies for other first responder professions.
• Expands the membership of the task force on first responder wellness to include two members representing tribal law enforcement officers, two members representing tribal first responders, and two members from the Washington Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.
• Contains additional provisions related to implementing peer support services.

The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate.

Dates to remember

HB 2311 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Law & Justice Committee on February 16 at 1:30 pm, and a vote in the same committee on February 20 at 10:30 am.

Bill addressing first responder wellness and peer support is scheduled for a vote

January 26, 2024

HB 2311, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Davis (D–Shoreline), supports first responder wellness and peer support. The bill would create a Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) task force on first responder wellness in the state. It would also require the CJTC to develop a 40-hour training program for first responder peer support counselors, a cultural competency training for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) professionals, a first responder peer support network, and a directory of mental health and SUD professionals with specific competency, experience, and training. The bill also adds $3 million to the operating budget to provide grants to local law enforcement agencies to establish officer wellness programs.

While AWC fully supports first responder wellness program, much of HB 2311 is subject to appropriation, meaning it will be functionally null and void if not adequately funded in the final supplemental budget. AWC will continue to support the bill and advocate for sufficient funding in the operating budget.

Dates to remember

HB 2311 is scheduled for a vote in the House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee on January 29 at 1:30 pm.