House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Further amends the definition of peer counselor set forth in GS 8-53.10 (pertaining to peer support group counselors) to also include certain employees of a corrections agency who, in addition to existing requirements, is designated to provide counseling. Makes conforming changes throughout the statute to include corrections officers and employees. Defines corrections employee as any corrections employee or a member of his or her immediate family who is in need of and receives peer counseling services offered by the employee's corrections agency.
Bill Summaries: H 661 EMERGENCY SERVICES PEER COUNSELING PRIVILEGE.
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Bill H 661 (2023-2024)Summary date: Apr 26 2023 - View Summary
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Bill H 661 (2023-2024)Summary date: Apr 17 2023 - View Summary
Amends the definition of peer counselor set forth in GS 8-53.10 (pertaining to peer support group counselors) to include certain employees of both law enforcement agencies and emergency agencies (currently just law enforcement agency) who, in addition to existing requirements, is designated to provide counseling to client law enforcement employees and emergency personnel officers (currently just hired to counsel law enforcement employees). Makes conforming changes to definition of privileged communication. Clarifies that nothing in GS 8-53.10 will be construed to require either of the following for the privilege established here to apply:(1) that the peer counselor be specifically assigned to counsel the client law enforcement employee, emergency personnel officer, or member of the client law enforcement employee's or emergency personnel officer's immediate family receiving the counseling or (2) that the designation of peer counselor be made by the head of the same agency that employs the client law enforcement employee or emergency personnel officer. Applies retroactively to communications made on or after July 8, 2022.