S.Amdt. 3102

SA 3102. Mrs. GILLIBRAND submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by her to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for
fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense,
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 1067. FIRST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE.

Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:

``SEC. 399V-8. FIRST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE.

``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use,
shall maintain, directly or by contract or grant, a national
first responders emergency hotline to provide peer and
emotional support, information, brief intervention, and
mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder
resources and referrals to first responders and to their
families or household members.
``(b) Requirements for Hotline.--The hotline established
under subsection (a) shall--
``(1) operate as a separate, widely recognizable number
with bidirectional transfer options with the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline established pursuant to section 520E-3;
``(2) provide 24/7 toll-free, real-time, live assistance;
``(3) provide voice and text support;
``(4) be sufficiently staffed by, at a minimum, culturally
competent first responder peer specialists or first responder
mental health services providers; and
``(5) provide peer support, mental and behavioral health
and substance use disorder assistance, and referral services
to meet the needs of first responders and family members or
household members at risk of experiencing mental or
behavioral health or substance use disorders.
``(c) Additional Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--In maintaining the hotline under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
``(A) consult with the National Domestic Violence Hotline,
the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and the Veterans Crisis
Line to ensure that first responders are connected in real-
time to the appropriate specialized hotline service, when
applicable;

[[Page S4844]]

``(B) conduct a public awareness campaign for the hotline
under subsection (a) in coordination and consultation with
Federal departments and agencies, including the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the
Department of Justice; and
``(C) consult with organizations that operate existing
crisis or peer support hotlines for first responders with
respect to best practices for operating such hotlines.
``(2) Existing hotlines.--The Secretary or an entity
receiving a grant or contract under subsection (a), as
applicable, shall form partnerships between the existing
national first responders mental health hotline and other
first responder helplines and websites.
``(3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure that calls
from public safety personnel received through the 988 Suicide
and Crisis Lifeline are appropriately referred to the hotline
under subsection (a).
``(4) Minimum standards.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall implement, in
coordination with mental health providers and first responder
associations or personnel, trauma-informed and culturally
competent training, guidance, and standards for culturally
competent peer specialists and 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline network center personnel on the unique concerns,
resources, linkages, and stressors of first responders.
``(B) Minimum training requirements.--Culturally competent
first responder peer specialists and 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline network center personnel shall complete not less
than 20 hours of foundation training, which shall include
instruction on--
``(i) the essential functions of first responders and
public safety organizations;
``(ii) the behavioral health conditions common to first
responders;
``(iii) common and novel stressors inherent in public
safety and emergency response work;
``(iv) normal and abnormal adaptation to occupational
stress and trauma;
``(v) the principles of confidentiality, testimonial
privilege, and ethical considerations;
``(vi) crisis intervention strategies;
``(vii) action planning, resource navigation, and referral
processes;
``(viii) general risk assessment, including suicide risk
indicators and safety planning intervention strategies; and
``(ix) first responders outreach and engagement practices.
``(C) Continuing education.--Culturally competent first
responder peer specialists and 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline network center personnel shall complete a minimum of
8 hours annually of continuing education focused on emerging
behavioral health topics, best practices in peer support, and
updates in crisis intervention and referral protocols.
``(D) Identification of qualified training partners.--To
support the development, implementation, and continuous
evaluation of peer support training programs designed to
promote the safety, mental wellness, and operational
readiness of first responders and emergency service
personnel, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, collaborate with nationally recognized nonprofit
organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 that demonstrate--
``(i) expertise in training related to emergency response
and behavioral health with the first responder community; and
``(ii) documented cultural competency regarding the unique
operational environments, occupational stressors, and
behavioral health challenges faced by first responders.
``(d) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual
report to Congress on the hotline under subsection (a) and
implementation of this section, including--
``(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of activities
conducted or supported under subsection (a);
``(2) an evaluation of staffing levels necessary to
maintain adequate services;
``(3) a directory of entities or organizations to which
staff maintaining the hotline funded under this section may
make referrals; and
``(4) such additional information as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Culturally competent first responder peer
specialist.--The term `culturally competent first responder
peer specialist' means an individual--
``(A) with familiarity with, and understanding of, the
duties and unique stressors of first responders, which may
include experience working as a first responder; and
``(B) who completed a trauma-informed and culturally
competent training developed pursuant to subsection (c)(4).
``(2) First responder.--The term `first responder'--
``(A) means--
``(i) a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of
a rescue squad or ambulance crew (as such terms are defined
in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968); or
``(ii) a public safety telecommunicator, including 9-1-1
operators and dispatchers; and
``(B) includes a retired first responder.
``(3) First responder mental health services provider.--The
term `first responder mental health services provider'
includes a State-licensed or State-certified counselor,
trauma counselor, psychologist or other State licensed or
certified mental health professional who--
``(A) is qualified under State law to provide mental or
behavioral health services; and
``(B) who completed a trauma-informed and culturally
competent training developed pursuant to subsection (c)(4).
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032.''.
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