S825-119

What This Bill Does

The Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act responds to high PTSD, acute stress, and suicide risk among police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, 911 dispatchers, Tribal public safety officers, and other public safety personnel. It requires the Attorney General, through the COPS Office, to report within 150 days on at least one feasible program for trauma-informed care, peer support, counselor services, family supports, confidentiality conditions, nationwide administration, authorizing language, and estimated annual appropriations.

Who Benefits and How

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and Tribal public safety officers benefit if the proposed program expands access to evidence-based trauma care. 911 public safety telecommunicators benefit because they are expressly included in the report and program design. Families of public safety officers benefit from required consideration of family supports. State, Tribal, territorial, and local public safety agencies benefit from a federal blueprint for mental-health programming they could use or receive grants for.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Attorney General and COPS Office must prepare the report, consult stakeholders, draft grant conditions, and estimate appropriations. Public safety agencies must participate in consultation and may need to implement confidentiality and program conditions later. DOJ budget offices must estimate annual appropriations for any proposed program. Federal taxpayers may bear future costs if Congress funds the recommended program.

Key Provisions

• Requires a DOJ report within 150 days on proposed PTSD and acute-stress-disorder programs for public safety personnel.
• Provides that proposed programs should include trauma-informed care, peer support, counselor services, and family supports.
• Directs DOJ to draft confidentiality-related grant conditions for officers and telecommunicators seeking care.
• Requires stakeholder consultation with public safety agencies and organizations representing officers, telecommunicators, and families.