HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3706        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kathleen R. LaNatra

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to strengthen critical incident stress management for emergency service providers.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3706        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to strengthen critical incident stress management for emergency service providers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 20O of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Crisis intervention” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Crisis intervention”, immediate short-term psychological care provided by a certified emergency service provider providing critical incident stress management to an individual or group of emergency service providers after their response to a critical incident.

SECTION 2. Said section 20O of chapter 233 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “referral” in line 12 the following words:- provided to an individual or group of emergency service providers

SECTION 3. Said section 20O of chapter 233 is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Critical incident stress management” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Critical incident stress management”, a program designed to assist an individual or group of emergency service providers in coping with the psychological stress or trauma resulting from their response to a critical incident.

SECTION 4. Said section 20O of chapter 233 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “firefighter” in line 22 the following words:- corrections officer, police dispatcher, 911 operator

SECTION 5. Subsection (b) of said section 20O of chapter 233 is hereby amended by inserting after the words “as part of” in lines 27 and 34 respectively the following words:- a group or individual

SECTION 6. Said subsection (b) of chapter 329 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “provider” in line 30 the following words:- , emergency service provider