Committee backs SB1216 to make traumatic‑event counseling permanent and add forensic technicians

The House Committee on Public Safety and Law Enforcement voted to return SB1216 with a due‑pass recommendation, moving to make traumatic‑event counseling programs permanent for covered public‑safety personnel and to expand the definition of ‘‘public safety employee’’ to include crime‑scene and digital forensics technicians.

Adele, committee staff, told the panel that SB1216 “repeals the delayed repeal date of the traumatic event counseling programs for public safety employees, peace officers, firefighters, and 911 dispatchers” and expands coverage to include crime scene and digital forensics technicians.

Joe Cler, executive director of the Arizona Police Association, said the association introduced the bill and had consulted with the League of Cities and Towns; he and other witnesses said the League raised no cost concerns and that the measure was broadly supported by local governments. Tom Carretto (Professional Firefighters of Arizona) and other proponents stressed the importance of continuing counseling benefits after recent traumatic incidents.

Committee members asked for data on how many people use the benefit and the fiscal impact on towns. Witnesses said utilization was a small fraction relative to peace officers — Cler and Carretto reported utilization under 10% for similar expansions and that most users averaged four to six visits. Witnesses said responses varied by jurisdiction and that detailed cost estimates would need to be supplied by the agencies or cities and towns.

The committee approved SB1216 with a due‑pass recommendation on a roll call and the chair announced the result as 12 ayes and 1 absent.