Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB621: Allow a local first response entity to establish a peer support program
Status: Signed into law, May 19, 2025
What the bill says
An act allowing a local first responder entity to establish a peer support program; providing for minimum requirements of a local first responder peer support program; and prohibiting a qualified peer supporter from testifying about the content of a peer support session.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT ALLOWING A LOCAL FIRST RESPONDER ENTITY TO ESTABLISH A PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF A LOCAL FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM; AND PROHIBITING A QUALIFIED PEER SUPPORTER FROM TESTIFYING ABOUT THE CONTENT OF A PEER SUPPORT SESSION. Section 1. Local first responder peer support programs. (1) A police department, sheriff's office, fire department, or emergency medical service provider may establish a first responder peer support program that is in compliance with the provisions of this section. (2) A local first responder peer support program must have a written policy that outlines, at a minimum: (a) qualifications for a peer supporter, including certification and continuing education requirements; (b) guidelines for what constitutes a peer support session from a conversation between peers; (c) definitions for a group debrief and peer support team; (d) the prohibition of recording in writing or by video or audio any peer support session; (e) how peer supporters in the program shall comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. 1320d, et seq.; (f) the ability of an employee to use multiple peer supporters; (g) the protection of an employee from being forced to use a peer supporter who holds supervisory authority over the employee; (h) the prohibition of harassment or discrimination against an employee or volunteer who …
Sponsors
- Gist, Steve (R, 25) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments
Votes
- Do Concur (April 17, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 16, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 7, 2025): 37 yea, 12 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 5, 2025): 34 yea, 12 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Law Enforcement, Health Care Services
Common questions
- What is HB621?
- HB621 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Allow a local first response entity to establish a peer support program.
- What does HB621 do?
- In its own words: An act allowing a local first responder entity to establish a peer support program; providing for minimum requirements of a local first responder peer support program; and prohibiting a qualified peer supporter from testifying about the content of a peer support session.
- What is the status of HB621?
- Signed into law as of May 19, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB621?
- Gist, Steve (R, 25).
- Where is the official record for HB621?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2296
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.