BILL REQ. #:  Z-0462.1 

Read first time 01/14/09.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to crisis referral services for criminal justice and correctional personnel; and adding new sections to chapter 43.101 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The commission shall offer a training session on personal crisis recognition and crisis intervention services to criminal justice and correctional personnel. The training shall be implemented by the commission in consultation with appropriate public and private organizations that have expertise in crisis referral services and in the underlying conditions leading to the need for crisis referral.
     (2) The training shall consist of a minimum of one hour of classroom or internet instruction, and shall include instruction on the following subjects:
     (a) The description and underlying causes of problems that may have an impact on the personal and professional lives of law enforcement employees, including mental health issues, chemical dependency, domestic violence, financial problems, and other personal crises;
     (b) Techniques by which law enforcement employees may recognize the conditions listed in (a) of this subsection and understand the need to seek assistance and obtain a referral for consultation and possible treatment;
     (c) A listing of public and private crisis referral agencies available to law enforcement employees; and
     (d) A description of the kinds of consultation and treatment services available for referral of law enforcement employees, including the cost of such services and available resources to help pay for the services.
     (3) The training developed by the commission for criminal justice and correctional personnel shall be made available by the commission to all employees of state and local agencies that perform public safety duties. The commission may charge a reasonable fee to defer the cost of making the training available.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) All communications to crisis referral services by employees and volunteers of law enforcement, correctional, firefighting, and emergency services agencies, and all records related to the communications, shall be confidential and privileged. Crisis referral services include all public or private organizations that advise employees and volunteers of such agencies about sources of consultation and treatment for personal problems including mental health issues, chemical dependency, domestic violence, gambling, financial problems, and other personal crises.
     (2) A crisis referral service may reveal information related to crisis referral services to prevent reasonably certain death, substantial bodily harm, or commission of a crime.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 43.101 RCW.