Wis. Stat. § 165.875 — WI Code / Chapter 165 / Section 165.875
Section 165.875
Status: in_force

(r) “Political subdivision” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (d) .

(s) “Public safety personnel” means an employee of a governmental entity who, by virtue of the person’s job duties, provides support to peace officers, including dispatchers, public safety telecommunicators, crime scene and crime laboratory technicians, and criminal analysts.

(t) “Trained” means a person who has successfully completed an approved peer support training program or an approved critical incident stress management training program.

(u) “Tribal law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (e) .

(v) “Tribal law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (g) .

(2) Creation; operation.

(a) The department of justice shall establish and implement a program for the establishment of peer support teams and critical incident stress management services teams. The department of justice shall organize a program of training for membership on a peer support team to provide peer support services.

(b) In order to qualify as a peer support team member or a critical incident stress management services team member, an individual shall attend a peer support training program provided through the department of justice as described under par. (a) or, at a minimum, a training program by a credentialed health care provider who, through education, training, or experience, is qualified to provide peer support training or critical incident stress management services training. An individual may not provide peer support services or critical incident stress management services unless that individual successfully completes a peer support or critical incident stress management services training program.

(c) The department of justice shall promulgate rules to implement this section, including all of the following:

1. Procedures for establishment of a peer support team or a critical incident stress management services team.

2. Procedures for designation of individuals to be peer support team members, critical incident stress management services team members, or both.

(d)

1. An agency may establish a peer support team and, if a peer support team is established, shall develop written guidelines for the peer support team and its peer support team members.

2. An agency may establish a critical incident stress management services team and, if a critical incident stress management services team is established, shall develop written guidelines for the critical incident stress management services team and its critical incident stress management services team members.

3. No agency may establish or maintain a peer support team or critical incident stress management services team unless the agency complies with rules promulgated under this section.

(f) Subject to par. (g) , in accordance with s. 905.095 , a peer support team member or critical incident stress management services team member may refuse to disclose communications made by a person receiving peer support services or critical incident stress management services, including individual or group support sessions.

(g) Paragraph (f) applies only to communications made during interactions conducted by a peer support team member or critical incident stress management services team member who is doing all of the following:

1. Acting in the team member’s capacity as a peer support team member or critical incident stress management services team member.

2. Functioning within the written peer support guidelines or critical incident stress management services guidelines that are in effect for the team member’s respective agency.

(h) Subject to the requirements under par. (g) , communications made by a person receiving or providing peer support services or critical incident stress management services, including communications made during or arising out of individual or group support sessions, are not open to public inspection, copying, or disclosure under s. 19.35 .

(i) This section does not apply if any of the following are true:

1. A peer support team member or a critical incident stress management services team member was a witness or a party to the incident that prompted the delivery of peer support services or critical incident stress management services.

2. Information received by a peer support team member or a critical incident stress management services team member is indicative of actual or suspected child abuse or actual or suspected child neglect.

3. The person receiving peer support services or critical incident stress management services is a clear and immediate danger to himself or herself or others.

4. Communication to a peer support team member or a critical incident stress management services team member provides evidence that the person who is receiving the peer support services or critical incident stress management services has committed a crime, plans to commit a crime, or intends to conceal a crime.

(3) Liability exemption.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in par. (b) , a peer support team or peer support team member or a critical incident stress management services team or critical incident stress management services team member providing peer support services or critical incident stress management services, respectively, is not liable for damages, including personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or other loss related to a peer support team member’s or critical incident stress management services team member’s act, error, or omission in performing peer support services or critical incident stress management services.

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an action for medical malpractice.

History: 2023 a. 220 .