H.R. 2937

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety telecommunicators.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · April 17, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Kelly of Illinois · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 2937
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Best practices and other resources for addressing mental health in public safety telecommunicators
  • SEC. 3. Grants for behavioral health and wellness programs within emergency communications centers

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Best practices and other resources for addressing mental health in public safety telecommunicators

• (a) Best practices
  • The Secretary shall—
    • develop and make publicly available evidence-based best practices to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety telecommunicators; and
    • periodically reassess and update, as the Secretary determines necessary, such best practices.
• (b) Development of resources for educating mental health professionals about treating public safety telecommunicators
  • The Secretary shall develop and make publicly available resources that may be used by the Federal Government and other entities to educate mental health professionals about—
    • the culture of emergency communications centers;
    • the different stressors experienced by public safety telecommunicators;
    • challenges encountered by retired public safety telecommunicators; and
    • evidence-based therapies for mental health issues common to public safety telecommunicators.
• (c) Consultation
  • In developing best practices under subsection (a) and resources under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with—
    • public health experts;
    • mental health experts with experience studying suicide, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other illnesses associated with job-related stress;
    • clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating mental health issues; and
    • relevant national nonprofit associations of public safety telecommunicators.
• (d) Definitions
  • The term emergency communications center means a facility that is designated to receive a 9–1–1 request for emergency assistance and perform one or more of the following functions:
  • The term public safety telecommunicator means a public safety telecommunicator as designated in detailed occupation 43–5031 in the Standard Occupational Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget (2018), or any successor designation.

SEC. 3. Grants for behavioral health and wellness programs within emergency communications centers

• Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.
  • (a) In general
    • The Secretary shall award grants to State, local, and regional emergency communications centers and other eligible entities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing behavioral health and wellness programs.
  • (b) Use of funds
    • An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use funds received through the grant—
      • to establish evidence-based behavioral health and wellness programs for emergency communications centers to support public safety telecommunicators, including programs dedicated to raising awareness of, preventing, and mitigating job-related mental health issues;
      • to establish or enhance peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs;
      • to acquire materials or instructors to provide such training; and
      • to disseminate such information and materials as are necessary to carry out a evidence-based behavioral health and wellness program.
  • (c) Definitions
    • The term emergency communications center means a facility that is designated to receive a 9–1–1 request for emergency assistance and perform one or more of the following functions:
    • The term other eligible entity means a nonprofit organization with expertise and experience with respect to the health and wellness of public safety telecommunicators, including State, local, and regional 9–1–1 authorities and State, regional, and national public safety communications associations.
    • The term peer-support behavioral health and wellness program means programs that use public safety telecommunicators to serve as peer counselors or provide training to public safety telecommunicators to serve as such peer counselors.
    • The term public safety telecommunicator means a public safety telecommunicator as designated in detailed occupation 43–5031 in the Standard Occupational Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget (2018), or any successor designation.