SB 1400: public safety employees; counseling; wellness - Arizona

Senate Engrossed Version (03/04/2026) → Chaptered Version · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was formally enacted into law after passing both chambers, changing the header from Senate Engrossed to House Engrossed and adding official approval dates. A new section was added to the statute numbering to accommodate the new text. The most significant policy change is an expansion of confidentiality protections for crisis response communications, adding a new condition that the communication must not be otherwise privileged before it can be disclosed, and explicitly equating the protection level to attorney-client privilege.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on law enforcement wellness programs and crisis response services, but the applicability of confidentiality rules was broadened by adding a new prerequisite condition for disclosure.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that crisis response communications can only be disclosed if they are not otherwise privileged, expanding the conditions under which confidentiality can be waived.

Clarified that crisis response communications receive the same legal protections as attorney-client privilege.

TIMELINE

Added official enactment dates, showing the bill was approved by the Governor on June 19, 2026, and filed on June 22, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Updated section numbering to include decimal points (e.g., Section 1.1) to accommodate the new text.

House Engrossed Version (04/21/2026) → Senate Engrossed Version (03/04/2026) · 3 edits · Jun 9, 2026

MINOR

The bill was transitioned from the House version to the Senate version, primarily involving a reorganization of the text layout and a consolidation of confidentiality exceptions. The most significant substantive change is the removal of a specific clause that allowed crisis communications to be disclosed if they contained information exempted from privilege, replacing it with a broader statement that these communications are now protected under the same rules as attorney-client privilege.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on public safety employees, but the specific conditions under which their crisis response communications can be disclosed have been altered.

REQUIREMENT

Removed a specific exception allowing the disclosure of crisis communications if they contained information exempted from privilege, effectively tightening confidentiality rules.

Clarified that crisis response communications are now explicitly subject to the same protections as attorney-client privilege.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the document structure, changing the header from 'House Engrossed' to 'Senate Engrossed' and adjusting the formatting of section headers and statutory text.

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version (04/21/2026) · 4 edits · Jun 9, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reorganized and renamed from a general wellness program to a specific 'Crisis Response Services' program. The scope was narrowed to focus primarily on licensed mental health professionals rather than peer support, and the confidentiality exceptions were significantly expanded to include violations of agency policies and criminal investigations.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a broad wellness initiative including peer support to a more formalized crisis response program involving licensed professionals.

DEFINITION

The definition of the program changed from 'wellness program' and 'peer support' to 'crisis response services' and 'crisis response services designated person'.

The definition of confidential communications was expanded to include advice given within the program that indicates 'clear and present danger'.

ELIGIBILITY

The requirement for counseling changed from 'peer support specialists' to 'licensed mental health professionals'.

REQUIREMENT

New exceptions were added to confidentiality, allowing disclosure if a participant violates agency policies or if the communication occurs during a criminal investigation.

public safety employees; counseling; wellness

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