PROTECT 911 Act

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety telecommunicators. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 911 Act PROTECT 911 Act 2. Best practices and other resources for addressing mental health in public safety telecommunicators (a) Best practices The Secretary shall— (1) develop and make publicly available evidence-based best practices to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety telecommunicators; and (2) periodically reassess and update, as the Secretary determines necessary, such best practices. (b) Development of resources for educating mental health professionals about treating public safety telecommunicators The Secretary shall develop and make publicly available resources that may be used by the Federal Government and other entities to educate mental health professionals about— (1) the culture of emergency communications centers; (2) the different stressors experienced by public safety telecommunicators; (3) challenges encountered by retired public safety telecommunicators; and (4) evidence-based therapies for mental health issues common to public safety telecommunicators. (c) Consultation In developing best practices under subsection (a) and resources under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with— (1) public health experts; (2) mental health experts with experience studying suicide, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other illnesses associated with job-related stress; (3) clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating mental health issues; and (4) relevant national nonprofit associations of public safety telecommunicators. (d) Definitions (1) Emergency communications center The term emergency communications center (A) Process and analyze 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and other gathered information. (B) Dispatch appropriate emergency response providers. (C) Transfer or exchange 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and other gathered information with other emergency communications centers and emergency response providers. (D) Analyze any communications received from emergency response providers. (E) Support incident command functions. (2) Public safety telecommunicator The term public safety telecommunicator 3. Grants for behavioral health and wellness programs within emergency communications centers Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 243 et seq. 320C. Grants for behavioral health and wellness programs within emergency communications centers (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to State, local, and regional emergency communications centers and other eligible entities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing behavioral health and wellness programs. (b) Program description A behavioral health and wellness program funded under this section shall— (1) establish evidence-based behavioral health and wellness programs for emergency communications centers to support public safety telecommunicators, including programs dedicated to raising awareness of, preventing, and mitigating job-related mental health issues; (2) establish or enhance peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs; (3) acquire materials or instructors to provide such training; and (4) disseminate such information and materials as are necessary to carry out the program. (c) Definitions (1) Emergency communications center The term emergency communications center (A) Process and analyze 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and other gathered information. (B) Dispatch appropriate emergency response providers. (C) Transfer or exchange 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance and other gathered information with other emergency communications centers and emergency response providers. (D) Analyze any communications received from emergency response providers. (E) Support incident command functions. (2) Other eligible entity The term other eligible entity (3) Peer-support behavioral health and wellness program The term peer-support behavioral health and wellness program (4) Public safety telecommunicator The term public safety telecommunicator .

Summary: Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 911 Act or the PROTECT 911 Act This bill establishes a grant program, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop resources, for addressing mental health conditions among public safety telecommunicators. These include 9-1-1 operators and other public safety personnel who are responsible for responding to requests for emergency assistance. Specifically, HHS must award grants to state, local, and regional emergency communications centers or nonprofits for behavioral health and wellness programs to prevent and mitigate job-related mental health issues among public safety telecommunicators. Additionally, HHS must develop and disseminate (1) best practices for identifying, preventing, and treating post-traumatic stress disorder among public safety telecommunicators; and (2) resources for educating mental health professionals about the workplace culture of, stressors and challenges experienced by, and therapies for treating mental health issues common to public safety telecommunicators.