Bill Text: CA AB1843 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Emergency ambulance employees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-24 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. [AB1843 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1843-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Assembly
May 16, 2024 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
March 06, 2024 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1843
| Introduced by Assembly Member Rodriguez (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Cervantes) |
January 16, 2024 |
An act to add Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 1799.300) to Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 884 of the Labor Code, relating to private employment.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1843, as amended, Rodriguez.
Emergency ambulance employees.
Under the Emergency Ambulance Employee Safety and Preparedness Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 11 at the November 6, 2018, statewide general election, every emergency ambulance employee is entitled to employer-paid mental health services through an employee assistance program (EAP), and requires the EAP coverage to provide up to 10 mental health treatments per issue per calendar year. The act defines “issue” for purposes of those provisions to mean mental health conditions such as, among other things, stress, depression, or substance abuse.
This bill would instead require an EAP to provide up to 20 mental health treatments per issue per calendar year, and would include post-traumatic stress disorder in the definition of “issue” for purposes of those provisions.
The bill would require a treatment provider under an EAP to have a certification in providing mental health services to first responders or emergency medical services personnel, as specified.
The bill would also require an EAP to schedule an appointment with a mental health treatment provider within 48 hours, upon request of an emergency ambulance employee.
This bill would require an emergency ambulance provider to offer to all emergency ambulance employees, upon the employee’s request, peer-to-peer peer support services to provide peer representatives who are available to come to the aid of their fellow employees on a broad range of emotional or professional issues. The bill would require a peer support program to be implemented through a labor-management agreement negotiated separately from a collective bargaining agreement covering affected emergency ambulance
employees. This bill would specify conditions under which prescribed confidential communications between an emergency ambulance employee and a peer support team member may be disclosed. The bill would specify that an emergency ambulance employee who provides peer support services as a member of a peer support team, and the ambulance agency that employs them, shall not be liable for damages unless an act, error, or omission in performing peer support services constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct, except for an action for medical malpractice.
Existing law authorizes the act to be amended by a statute enacted by the Legislature with a 4/5 4/5
vote that furthers the purposes of the act.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Digest Key
Vote: FOUR_FIFTHS Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 1799.300) is added to Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:CHAPTER 12.5. Peer Support Services for Emergency Ambulance Employees
1799.300.
(a) An emergency ambulance provider shall offer to all emergency ambulance employees, upon the employee’s request,(b) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Confidential communication” means any information, including, but not limited to, written or oral communication, transmitted between an emergency ambulance employee, a peer support team member, or a crisis hotline or crisis referral service staff member while the peer support team member provides peer support services or the crisis hotline or crisis referral service staff member provides crisis services and in confidence by a means that, as far as the emergency ambulance employee is aware, does not disclose the information to third persons
parties other than those who are present to further the interests of the emergency ambulance employee in delivery of peer support services or those to whom disclosures are reasonably necessary for the transmission of the information or an accomplishment of the purposes for which the peer support team member is providing services.
(2) “Crisis referral services” include all public or private organizations that provide consultation and treatment resources for personal problems, including mental health issues, chemical dependency, domestic violence, gambling, financial problems, and other personal crises. Neither crisis referral services nor crisis hotlines include services provided
by an employee association, labor relations representative, or labor relations organization, or any entity owned or operated by an employee association, labor relations representative, or labor relations organization.
(3) “Critical incident” means an event or situation that involves crisis, disaster, trauma, or emergency.
(4) “Critical incident stress” means the acute or cumulative psychological stress or trauma that emergency ambulance personnel may experience in providing emergency services in response to a critical incident. The stress or trauma is an unusually strong emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or physical reaction that may interfere with normal functioning and could lead to post-traumatic stress injuries, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:
(A) Physical and emotional illness.
(B) Failure of usual coping mechanisms.
(C) Loss of interest in the job or normal life activities.
(D) Personality changes.
(E) Loss of ability to function.
(F) Psychological disruption of personal life, including their relationship with a spouse, child, or friend.
(2)
(5) “Emergency ambulance employee” means a person
who meets both of the following requirements:
(A) Is an emergency medical technician, dispatcher, paramedic, or other licensed or certified ambulance transport person who contributes to the delivery of ambulance services.
(B) Is employed by an emergency ambulance provider.
(3)
(6) “Emergency ambulance provider” means an employer that provides ambulance services, but not including the state, or any political subdivision thereof, in its capacity as the direct employer of a
person meeting the description contained in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2).
(4)
(7) “Peer support program” means a program administered by the emergency ambulance provider to deliver peer support services to emergency ambulance employees consistent with this chapter.
(5)
(8) “Peer support services” means authorized peer support services provided by a peer support team member to emergency ambulance employees and their immediate families affected by a critical incident or the cumulative effect of witnessing multiple critical incidents. Peer support services assist those affected by a critical incident in coping with critical incident stress and mitigating reactions to critical incident stress, including reducing the risk of post-traumatic stress and other injuries. Peer support services may include any of the following:
(A) Precrisis education.
(B) Critical incident stress defusings.
(C) Critical incident stress debriefings.
(D) On-scene support services.
(E) One-on-one support services.
(F) Consultation.
(G) Referral services.
(H) Confidentiality obligations.
(I) The impact of toxic stress on health and well-being.
(J) Grief support.
(K) Substance abuse awareness and approaches.
(L) Active listening skills.
(M) Psychological first aid.
(6)
(9) “Peer support team” means a team or teams composed of emergency ambulance employees, hospital staff, clergy, and educators who have completed a peer support training course.
(7)
(10) “Peer support team member” means an emergency ambulance employee who has completed an approved peer support training course.
1799.301.
(a) A peer support program shall be implemented through a labor-management agreement negotiated separately and apart from any collective bargaining agreement covering affected emergency ambulance employees. The labor-management agreement may cover topics, including any of the following:(a)
(1) Program structure and administration.
(b)
(2) Selection and training of peer support team members.
(c)
(3) Peer support operations.
(d)
(4) Program evaluation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
(e)
(5) Funding.
(f)
(6) Dispute resolution and program amendments.
(b) 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.
1799.302.
(a) In any civil, administrative, or arbitration proceeding, an emergency ambulance employee, whether or not a party to an action, has a right to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a confidential communication between the emergency ambulance employee and a peer support team member made while the peer support team member was providing peer support(b) Notwithstanding
subdivision (a), a confidential communication described in subdivision (a) may be disclosed only under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The peer support team member reasonably must make an appropriate referral of the emergency ambulance employee to, or consult about the emergency ambulance employee with with, another member of the peer support team or a peer support team clinician associated with the peer support team.
(2) The peer support team member
member, crisis hotline, or crisis referral service reasonably believes that disclosure is necessary to prevent death, substantial bodily harm, or commission of a crime.
(3) The peer support team member reasonably believes that disclosure is necessary pursuant to an obligation to report instances of child abuse, as required by Section 11166 of the Penal Code, or other obligation to disclose or report as a mandated reporter.
(4) The disclosure is made pursuant to a court order in a civil proceeding.
(5) In a criminal proceeding.
(6) If otherwise required by
law.
(5)
(7) The emergency ambulance employee expressly agrees in writing that the confidential communication may be disclosed.
(c) If the communication is disclosed pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4)
(4), (5), or (6) of subdivision (b), a peer support team member shall notify the emergency ambulance employee of the disclosure in writing.
1799.303.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), an emergency ambulance employee who provides peer support services as a member of a peer support team and who has received training, and the ambulance agency that employs them, shall not be liable for damages, including personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or other loss related to an act, error, or omission in performing peer support services, unless the act, error, or omission constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct.(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to an action for medical malpractice.
(c) A person described in
subdivision (a) shall not provide peer support services if, when serving in a peer support role, the individual’s relationship with a peer support recipient could reasonably be expected to impair objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in providing peer support, or otherwise risk exploitation or harm to a peer support recipient.
(d) Whenever possible, a person described in subdivision (a) providing peer support services should not provide those services to a peer support recipient if the provider and recipient were both involved in the same specific traumatic incident, unless the incident is a large-scale incident.
An employee assistance program, as specified in section 884 of the Labor Code, shall schedule an appointment with a mental health treatment provider within 48 hours upon request of an emergency ambulance employee.
1799.304.
To be eligible for the confidentiality protections afforded by this chapter, a peer support team member shall complete a training course or courses on peer support approved by the emergency ambulance provider that may include, but is not limited to, the following:(a) Precrisis education.
(b) Critical incident stress defusings.
(c) Critical incident stress debriefings.
(d) On-scene support services.
(e) One-on-one support services.
(f) Consultation.
(g) Referral services.
(h) Confidentiality obligations.
(i) The impact of toxic stress on health and well-being.
(j) Grief support.
(k) Substance abuse awareness and approaches.
(l) Active listening skills.
(m) Stress management.
(n) Psychological first aid.
SEC. 2.
Section 884 of the Labor Code is amended to read:884.
Mental Health.(a) Every emergency ambulance employee shall receive employer-paid mental health and wellness education within 30 days of being hired and shall receive employer-paid mental health and wellness education each calendar year thereafter. Mental health and wellness education shall inform emergency ambulance employees of available mental health treatments and support services and provide general information regarding common mental health illnesses.
(b) Every emergency ambulance employee shall be entitled to employer-paid mental health services through an employee assistance program (EAP). The EAP coverage shall provide up to
20 mental health treatments per issue, per calendar year.
(1) The EAP shall schedule an appointment with a mental health treatment provider within 48 hours upon request of an emergency ambulance employee.
(2) A provider of mental health treatment under the EAP shall have certifications that specialize or train in providing mental health services to first responders or emergency medical services personnel. The certifications may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(A) Certified First Responder, Counselor, Associate, or Supporter.
(B) Emergency Responder and Public Safety Clinician.
(C) First Responder Psychology.
(D) Clinical First Responder Training.
(E) Certified Clinical Trauma Professional or Specialist.
(c) Every emergency ambulance employee that qualifies for or is eligible to receive employer-provided health insurance shall have access to health insurance plans that offer long-term mental health treatment services.
(d) For purposes of this section, “issue” means episodes of mental health conditions such as stress, depression, grief, loss, relationship struggles, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, parenting challenges, and other mental health conditions as described within the
EAP.
