Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 744, Sec. 1. (AB 2859) Effective January 1, 2025.
(a)An EMS provider may establish a peer support and crisis referral program. The program shall be responsible for providing a network of peer representatives, reflective of the provider’s workforce both in job positions and personal experiences, who are available to come to the aid of their fellow employees on a broad range of emotional or professional issues.
(b)The peer support and crisis referral program may provide employee support and referral services for matters that include any of the following:
(1)Substance use and substance abuse.
(2)Critical
incident stress.
(3)Family issues.
(4)Grief support.
(5)Legal issues.
(6)Line-of-duty deaths.
(7)Serious injury or illness.
(8)Suicide.
(9)Victims of crime.
(10)Workplace issues.
(c)A peer support program shall be implemented through a
labor-management agreement negotiated separately and apart from a collective bargaining agreement covering affected emergency medical personnel, if any.
(d)Sessions provided by a peer support program shall not count toward the total number of mental health treatments per issue required by Section 884 of the Labor Code.
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