PROTECT 911 Act

This bill aims to boost mental health support for 911 call center workers, known as public safety telecommunicators. It tells the U.S. health department to publish and keep updating proven best practices to spot, prevent, and treat PTSD and related conditions in these workers. It also requires creating easy-to-use resources to help counselors and therapists understand 911 center culture, the stresses on call-takers, challenges after retirement, and therapies that work for this group.

The bill also sets up grants for state, local, and regional 911 centers and qualified nonprofits to build or expand mental health and wellness programs. Grant money can be used for evidence-based programs, peer-support teams, training materials or instructors, and sharing information needed to run these programs. “Emergency communications centers” are facilities that receive 9-1-1 calls for help; “public safety telecommunicators” are the workers who handle those calls and related duties.

• Who is affected: 911 call center workers; 911 centers; nonprofits with expertise in telecommunicator health; mental health professionals who serve this community.
• What changes: Federal best practices and training resources will be published and updated; grants will help centers start or strengthen wellness and peer-support programs, including training and materials.
• When: The health department must issue and update best practices over time; the grant program is authorized in the bill text shown (no specific dates provided).