SB 103-PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM  3:46:53 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that the final order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 103, "An Act relating to peer support counseling programs for law enforcement agencies, emergency service providers, and the Department of Corrections." 3:47:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 33- LS0565\A.2, C. Radford, 3/4/24 to SB 103, which read: Page 1, line 7, following the second occurrence of "and": Insert "peer support" Page 1, line 13, following "in": Insert "peer support" Page 2, line 3, following "or": Insert "peer support" Page 2, line 4, following "between": Insert "peer support" Page 2, line 5, following "participant,": Insert "peer support" Page 2, line 7, following "between": Insert "peer support" Page 2, line 23, following the second occurrence of "the": Insert "peer support" Page 4, line 1, following "provide": Insert "peer support" 3:47:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT objected for the purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE STORY explained that Amendment 1 was drafted based on a bill discussion from the previous meeting. The amendment utilizes the term "peer support counselor" throughout the bill in place of the term "counselor". This will clarify that SB 103 is a peer support counseling program that does not utilize professional counselors or therapists. 3:47:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD offered her concern of the amendment and mentioned that the term "peer support" counselor is used in the title and in other places in the bill. She said she would not support the amendment. 3:48:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK added that her office also prepared this amendment. She said that the term counselor is referred to elsewhere in statute and refers to licensed professional counselors. This amendment helps to provide clarity in statute. She noted the incredible value of peer support counselors. 3:49:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked to hear from the bill sponsor about Amendment 1. 3:49:42 PM JAMES HOLZENBERG, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Senator Dunbar, prime sponsor, said that Senator Dunbar views the amendment as "friendly" because it helps to clarify the intent of the bill and prevents confusion about licensed professional counselors. 3:50:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked if Representative Story spoke to professional counselors and whether they would support the amendment. REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she did not speak with professional counselors. She said she read through definitions to ensure clarity so that people impacted by SB 103 would not think they were being served by a counselor who had full credentials. 3:50:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT maintained his objection. 3:50:54 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives C. Johnson, Carrick, Story, Carpenter, and Shaw voted in favor of Amendment 1 to SB 103. Representatives Allard and Wright voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 5-2. 3:51:49 PM CHAIR SHAW opened public testimony on SB 103, as amended. After ascertaining that no one wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:51:55 PM CHAIR SHAW closed public testimony for SB 103. 3:52:03 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 3:52:45 PM CHAIR SHAW reopened public testimony on SB 103. 3:52:58 PM BRIAN WEBB, representing self, informed the committee that he has been a peer support counselor since 1989. He testified in support of SB 103 and emphasized the importance of confidentiality. He said he has seen problems with confidentiality throughout his career. He noted promotions that were denied because of information leaked through peer counseling. He said in the last two years, Alaska has lost two emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians to suicides, including his former partner. He emphasized that the mental anguish of career loss is difficult and a barrier to healing because of the stigma around seeking help and the fear of confidentiality being broken. 3:55:09 PM DEIN BRUCE, Senior Captain, Anchorage Fire Department, said he has been the department peer support coordinator for six years. He discussed the cost-savings of peer-support counselors. Peer support has helped members return to full duty and reach post traumatic growth. Without a peer support program, he surmised, many members would leave his department due to mental health issues or substance abuse. Personnel replacement takes time, wages, and training. He discussed cost-savings from reduced turnover. He explained that preventing the replacement of experienced personnel generated $412,000 per year over 6 years in savings to the Anchorage Fire Department. The confidentiality piece of SB 103 will encourage members to come forward to get the aid needed to return to duty. 3:57:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked Mr. Bruce if he is a mandatory reporter. MR. BRUCE said that all first responders are mandatory reporters. Mandatory reporting requires a break in confidentiality under a certain set circumstances. REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked if SB 103 relieves first responders from mandatory reporting. MR. BRUCE said no, first responders are mandatory reporters. 3:58:03 PM ANGELINA SALVATO, representing self, testified in support of SB 103. She described her experience working for the Anchorage Police Department where she was involved in an officer-involved shooting and was made a criminal suspect. She mentioned that she was not permitted to discuss the case for two years. She explained that the peer-counselor program makes it possible for first responders to maintain wellness. 3:59:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked to hear from the bill sponsor about mandatory reporting. 4:00:20 PM MR. HOLZENBERG answered that the bill has exceptions to confidentiality including when threats of harm are made to oneself or others; if there are admissions of criminal conduct; if information is given about abuse of vulnerable adults or children; or if any information is disclosed that is established by mandatory reporting laws. 4:01:16 PM MS. SALVATO, in response to a question about mandatory reporting, discussed that the bill's language is similar to bills in Washington and Oregon. The bill exempts peer- counselors from confidentiality in specific situations. She asked if this bill goes far enough for confidentiality. Confidentiality does not allow counselors to withhold information to protect the first responder if something is revealed and is listed under the mandatory reporting requirements. 4:02:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON sought to clarify the difference between withholding and reporting. 4:03:10 PM MS. SAVALTO clarified that mandatory reporters are not exempt from reporting under specific situations mentioned earlier. 4:03:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON expressed his concerns and sought the Department of Law to answer his question. 4:04:11 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:04 p.m. to 4:09 p.m. 4:09:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER referred to page 2, subsection (b), concerning oral or written information, and asked if SB 103, as amended includes grand jury proceedings. He explained that he asked the question on the record and would await follow-up from the Department of Law to answer the question later. CHAIR SHAW announced that SB 103, as amended, was held over.