relative to critical incident stress management team members and establishing a rural and underserved area educator incentive program and making an appropriation therefor.

HB 1079 establishes a formal program for critical incident stress management teams to support emergency response and public safety workers who face psychological trauma from their duties. The bill defines these teams as groups of specially trained volunteers, including both active and retired personnel, who provide confidential counseling and crisis intervention services. To ensure quality care, team members must meet specific certification standards set by recognized organizations like the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. The law also creates a new rural and underserved area educator incentive program and includes provisions that protect the confidentiality of information shared during these support sessions, with specific exceptions for imminent threats of harm or abuse.