§ 8669.82

(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.

(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 744, Sec. 1. (AB 2859) Effective January 1, 2025.)