§ 837-Z — Law enforcement peer support program

* § 837-z. Law enforcement peer support program. 1. Definitions. As\nused in this section the following terms shall have the following\nmeanings:\n (a) "Law enforcement agency" means any department, division, agency,\nboard, commission, or public authority of the state or any subdivision\nthereof that employs police officers.\n (b) "Police officer" means a police officer as defined in section 1.20\nof the criminal procedure law.\n (c) "Peer support communication" includes:\n (i) an oral or written communication made in the course of a peer\nsupport counseling session;\n (ii) a note or report arising out of a peer support counseling\nsession; or\n (iii) a record of a peer support counseling session.\n (d) "Peer support counseling program" means a program provided by a\nlaw enforcement agency that provides counseling services from a peer\nsupport specialist to a police officer of the law enforcement agency.\n (e) "Peer support counseling session" means any counseling formally\nprovided through a peer support counseling program between a peer\nsupport specialist and one or more police officers.\n (f) "Peer support participant" means a police officer who receives\ncounseling services from a peer support specialist.\n (g) "Peer support specialist" means a police officer who:\n (i) has received training in peer support counseling, including\nproviding emotional and moral support to police officers who have been\ninvolved in or exposed to an emotionally traumatic experience in the\ncourse of employment; and\n (ii) is designated by a law enforcement agency to provide the services\ndescribed in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.\n 2. Confidentiality. Except as provided in subdivision three of this\nsection, a peer support specialist or peer support participant shall not\ndisclose the contents of a peer support communication to an individual\nwho was not a party to such peer support communication.\n 3. Exceptions.\n (a) A peer support specialist or peer support participant may disclose\nthe contents of a peer support communication that contains or reveals:\n (i) a specific threat of suicide, an expression of suicidal ideation,\nor engagement in self-harm;\n (ii) a threat of bodily harm or death; or\n (iii) information relating to the abuse or neglect of a child.\n (b) A peer support specialist or peer support participant shall\ndisclose the contents of a peer support communication:\n (i) that is required by law to be reported;\n (ii) that contains an admission of criminal conduct; or\n (iii) as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.\n (c) A peer support participant may at any time give their consent to a\npeer support specialist or peer support participant to disclose the\ncontents of their own peer support communication.\n 4. Written notice. Before the initial peer support counseling session\nof a peer support participant, a peer support specialist shall inform\nthe peer support participant in writing of the confidentiality\nrequirement under subdivision two of this section and the exceptions to\nthat requirement under subdivision three of this section.\n 5. Rules and regulations. The division shall promulgate rules and\nregulations necessary to effectuate this section and shall be empowered\nto identify minimum certifications required of trained members, approved\ntraining courses, record keeping requirements, and retraining\nrequirements.\n * NB Effective March 18, 2026\n