The bill creates the public defender and prosecutor behavioral
health support grant program (grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The department administers the program. The office of the state public defender and district attorney offices are eligible for a grant. A grant recipient may use grant money for counseling services, including reimbursements for the costs of counseling services; training
and education programs that teach the symptoms of job-related trauma; how to prevent and treat trauma; and peer support programs. The department is annually required to report to the general assembly about the grant program.
The bill prohibits a district attorney or public defender peer
support team member from being examined as a witness in court about any communication between the peer support team member and a person receiving peer support services without the consent of the person who received the peer support services.
