[House Report 116-519]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Rept. 116-519
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { Part 1
======================================================================
HELPING EMERGENCY RESPONDERS OVERCOME ACT
_______
September 18, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Pallone, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1646]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 1646) to require the Secretary of Health and
Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and
treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers,
and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the
bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Summary.............................................5
II. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................5
III. Committee Hearings..............................................6
IV. Committee Consideration.........................................6
V. Committee Votes.................................................7
VI. Oversight Findings..............................................7
VII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditure7
VIII. Exchange of Letters.............................................8
IX. Federal Mandates Statement.....................................12
X. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives..........12
XI. Duplication of Federal Programs................................12
XII. Committee Cost Estimate........................................12
XIII. Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits....12
XIV. Advisory Committee Statement...................................12
XV. Applicability to Legislative Branch............................12
XVI. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation.................12
XVII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported..........14
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Emergency Responders Overcome
Act'' or the ``HERO Act''.
SEC. 2. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER SUICIDE
INCIDENCE.
The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section
317U of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) the following:
``SEC. 317V. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
SUICIDE INCIDENCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies as
the Secretary determines appropriate, shall--
``(1) develop and maintain a data system, to be known as the
Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, for the
purposes of--
``(A) collecting data on the suicide incidence among
public safety officers; and
``(B) facilitating the study of successful
interventions to reduce suicide among public safety
officers; and
``(2) integrate such system into the National Violent Death
Reporting System, so long as the Secretary determines such
integration to be consistent with the purposes described in
paragraph (1).
``(b) Data Collection.--In collecting data for the Public Safety
Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall, at a minimum,
collect the following information:
``(1) The total number of suicides in the United States among
all public safety officers in a given calendar year.
``(2) Suicide rates for public safety officers in a given
calendar year, disaggregated by--
``(A) age and gender of the public safety officer;
``(B) State;
``(C) occupation; including both the individual's
role in their public safety agency and their primary
occupation in the case of volunteer public safety
officers;
``(D) where available, the status of the public
safety officer as volunteer, paid-on-call, or career;
and
``(E) status of the public safety officer as active
or retired.
``(c) Consultation During Development.--In developing the Public
Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall consult
with non-Federal experts to determine the best means to collect data
regarding suicide incidence in a safe, sensitive, anonymous, and
effective manner. Such non-Federal experts shall include, as
appropriate, the following:
``(1) Public health experts with experience in developing and
maintaining suicide registries.
``(2) Organizations that track suicide among public safety
officers.
``(3) Mental health experts with experience in studying
suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress.
``(4) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating
mental health issues.
``(5) Active and retired volunteer, paid-on-call, and career
public safety officers.
``(6) Relevant national police, and fire and emergency
medical services, organizations.
``(d) Data Privacy and Security.--In developing and maintaining the
Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall
ensure that all applicable Federal privacy and security protections are
followed to ensure that--
``(1) the confidentiality and anonymity of suicide victims
and their families are protected, including so as to ensure
that data cannot be used to deny benefits; and
``(2) data is sufficiently secure to prevent unauthorized
access.
``(e) Reporting.--
``(1) Annual report.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act,
and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report
to the Congress on the suicide incidence among public safety
officers. Each such report shall--
``(A) include the number and rate of such suicide
incidence, disaggregated by age, gender, and State of
employment;
``(B) identify characteristics and contributing
circumstances for suicide among public safety officers;
``(C) disaggregate rates of suicide by--
``(i) occupation;
``(ii) status as volunteer, paid-on-call, or
career; and
``(iii) status as active or retired;
``(D) include recommendations for further study
regarding the suicide incidence among public safety
officers;
``(E) specify in detail, if found, any obstacles in
collecting suicide rates for volunteers and include
recommended improvements to overcome such obstacles;
``(F) identify options for interventions to reduce
suicide among public safety officers; and
``(G) describe procedures to ensure the
confidentiality and anonymity of suicide victims and
their families, as described in subsection (d)(1).
``(2) Public availability.--Upon the submission of each
report to the Congress under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
make the full report publicly available on the website of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `public safety officer'
means--
``(1) a public safety officer as defined in section 1204 of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; or
``(2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in
detailed occupation 43-5031 in the Standard Occupational
Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget
(2018).
``(g) Prohibited Use of Information.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, if an individual is identified as deceased based on
information contained in the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting
System, such information may not be used to deny or rescind life
insurance payments or other benefits to a survivor of the deceased
individual.''.
SEC. 3. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS WITHIN
FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 320B. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS
WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICE AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing peer-support
behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and
emergency medical services agencies.
``(b) Program Description.--A peer-support behavioral health and
wellness program funded under this section shall--
``(1) use career and volunteer members of fire departments or
emergency medical services agencies to serve as peer
counselors;
``(2) provide training to members of career, volunteer, and
combination fire departments or emergency medical service
agencies to serve as such peer counselors;
``(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to provide
such training; and
``(4) disseminate such information and materials as are
necessary to conduct the program.
``(c) Definition.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible entity' means a nonprofit
organization with expertise and experience with respect to the
health and life safety of members of fire and emergency medical
services agencies.
``(2) The term `member'--
``(A) with respect to an emergency medical services
agency, means an employee, regardless of rank or
whether they receive compensation (as defined in
section 1204(7) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968); and
``(B) with respect to a fire department, means a
firefighter (as defined in section 1204(4) of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968).''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Effective as if included in the enactment
of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-310), the
amendment instruction in section 1603 of such Act is amended by
striking ``Part B of the Public Health Service Act'' and inserting
``Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act''.
SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243
et seq.), as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 320C. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PROGRAMS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing behavioral health
and wellness programs for health care providers.
``(b) Program Description.--A behavioral health and wellness program
funded under this section shall--
``(1) provide confidential support services for health care
providers to help handle stressful or traumatic patient-related
events, including counseling services and wellness seminars;
``(2) provide training to health care providers to serve as
peer counselors to other health care providers;
``(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to provide
such training; and
``(4) disseminate such information and materials as are
necessary to conduct such training and provide such peer
counseling.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' means
a hospital, including a critical access hospital (as defined in section
1861(mm)(1) of the Social Security Act) or a disproportionate share
hospital (as defined under section 1923(a)(1)(A) of such Act), a
Federally-qualified health center (as defined in section 1905(1)(2)(B)
of such Act), or any other health care facility.''.
SEC. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES FOR EDUCATING MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS ABOUT TREATING FIRE FIGHTERS AND
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, shall develop and make publicly available resources that may
be used by the Federal Government and other entities to educate mental
health professionals about--
(1) the culture of Federal, State, Tribal, and local career,
volunteer, and combination fire departments and emergency
medical services agencies;
(2) the different stressors experienced by firefighters and
emergency medical services personnel, supervisory firefighters
and emergency medical services personnel, and chief officers of
fire departments and emergency medical services agencies;
(3) challenges encountered by retired firefighters and
emergency medical services personnel; and
(4) evidence-based therapies for mental health issues common
to firefighters and emergency medical services personnel within
such departments and agencies.
(b) Consultation.--In developing resources under subsection (a), the
Administrator of the United States Fire Administration and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with national fire
and emergency medical services organizations.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``firefighter'' means any employee of a Federal,
State, Tribal, or local fire department who is responsible for
responding to calls for emergency service.
(2) The term ``emergency medical services personnel'' means
any employee, regardless of rank or whether they receive
compensation, as defined in section 1204(7) of the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C.
10284(7)).
(3) The term ``chief officer'' means any individual who is
responsible for the overall operation of a fire department or
an emergency medical services agency, irrespective of whether
such individual also serves as a firefighter or emergency
medical services personnel.
SEC. 6. BEST PRACTICES AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING POSTTRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER IN PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS.
(a) Development; Updates.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall--
(1) develop and assemble evidence-based best practices and
other resources to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic
stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety
officers; and
(2) reassess and update, as the Secretary determines
necessary, such best practices and resources, including based
upon the options for interventions to reduce suicide among
public safety officers identified in the annual reports
required by section 317V(e)(1)(F) of the Public Health Service
Act, as added by section 2 of this Act.
(b) Consultation.--In developing, assembling, and updating the best
practices and resources under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall consult with, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Public health experts.
(2) Mental health experts with experience in studying suicide
and other profession-related traumatic stress.
(3) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating
mental health issues.
(4) Relevant national police, fire, and emergency medical
services organizations.
(c) Availability.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
make the best practices and resources under subsection (a) available to
Federal, State, and local fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical
services agencies.
(d) Federal Training and Development Programs.--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall work with Federal departments and
agencies, including the United States Fire Administration, to
incorporate education and training on the best practices and resources
under subsection (a) into Federal training and development programs for
public safety officers.
(e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``public safety officer''
means--
(1) a public safety officer as defined in section 1204 of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C.
10284); or
(2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in detailed
occupation 43-5031 in the Standard Occupational Classification
Manual of the Office of Management and Budget (2018).
I. Purpose and Summary
H.R. 1646, the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act of
2019'' or the ``HERO Actor of 2019'', was introduced by Rep.
Ami Bera (D-CA) on March 8, 2019. H.R. 1646 would require the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to
improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental
health issues among public safety officers.
To help facilitate this, the bill requires the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study
successful interventions that reduce suicide among public
safety officers, create a data system to capture the incidence
of suicide in public safety officers, and integrate the data
system into the National Violent Death Reporting System. The
legislation further authorizes grants for peer support
behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments
and emergency medical service agencies. Also authorized are
grants for behavioral health and wellness programs for health
care providers. Finally, this legislation requires the
development of best practices for addressing posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) in public safety officers and
educational materials for purposes of educating mental health
professionals about how best to treat firefighters and
emergency medical services personnel.
II. Background and Need for Legislation
As emergency responders and hospital personnel continue to
battle the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), anecdotal
evidence suggests that suicide, depression, and substance use
disorder are significant issues facing public safety personnel
and medical providers.\1\ Those on the front lines of the
COVID-19 pandemic have witnessed previously unimaginable
conditions that are traumatizing for even the most seasoned
public safety and medical personnel.\2\ Prior to COVID-19, it
was estimated that 30 percent of first responders developed
behavioral health conditions including, but not limited to,
depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as
compared with 20 percent in the general population.\3\
Tragically, a 2018 study found that public safety officers were
more likely to die by suicide than professionals in other lines
of duty.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/30/suicides-two-health-care-
workers-hint-at-covid-19-mental-health-crisis-to-come/
\2\https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/03/at-the-bay-areas-hardest-
hit-coronavirus-hospital-frontline-workers-ask-is-the-worst-really-
over/
\3\Abbot, C., Barber, E., Burke, B., Harvey, J., Newland, C., Rose,
M., & Young, A. (2015). What's killing our medics? Ambulance Service
Manager Program. Conifer, CO: Reviving Responders. Retrieved from
http://www.revivingresponders.com/originalpaper
\4\https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/police-officers-and-
firefighters-are-more-likely-to-die-by-suicide-than-in-line-of-duty/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to help inform and support prevention and
treatment strategies for addressing behavioral and mental
health issues among public safety officers, H.R. 1646 would
require the development of a data system to capture the
incidence of suicides among this population, while also
facilitating the study of successful interventions to reduce
suicide among these front-line health workers. It will also
provide financial assistance to entities that establish
behavior health programs targeted to these populations. By
utilizing the new data system, improved research, and
programmatic findings, the Secretary shall develop best
practices and resources for addressing PTSD in these front-line
workers.
III. Committee Hearings
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the
116th Congress, the following hearing was used to develop or
consider H.R. 1646:
The Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on
June 30, 2020, entitled ``High Anxiety and Stress: Legislation
to Improve Mental Health During Crisis''' to consider H.R.
1461, the ``Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act of 2019''
or the ``HERO Act of 2019''. The Subcommittee received
testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, Founder of
the Kennedy Forum and former Member of Congress;
Arthur C. Evans, Jr. Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer, American Psychological Association;
Jeffrey L. Geller, M.D., M.P.H., President,
American Psychiatric Association; and
Ms. Arriana Gross, National Youth Advisory
Board Member, Sandy Hook Promise Students Against
Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club.
IV. Committee Consideration
H.R. 1646, the ``Emergency Responders Overcome Act of
2019'' or the ``HERO Actor of 2019'', was introduced by
Representative Bera (D-CA) on March 8, 2019 and was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill was then
referred to the Subcommittee on Health on March 9, 2019. On
June 30, 2020, the Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on
the bill.
On July 15, 2020, the Subcommittee on Health was discharged
from further consideration of H.R. 1646 as the bill was called
up for markup, pursuant to notice, by the full Committee on
Energy and Commerce. During consideration and markup an
amendment in the nature of a substitute (AINS) was offered by
Mr. Burgess of Texas. The Burgess AINS was agreed to by a voice
vote. The full Committee subsequently agreed to a motion on
final passage offered by Mr. Pallone, Chairman of the
committee, to order H.R. 1646 reported favorably to the House,
amended, by a voice vote, a quorum being present.
V. Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list each record vote
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. The
Committee advises that there were no record votes taken on H.R.
1646, including the motion on final passage of the bill.
VI. Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
oversight findings and recommendations of the Committee are
reflected in the descriptive portion of the report.
VII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
Pursuant to 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974.
The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
IX. Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
IX. Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
X. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to improve
the detection, prevention, and treatment of behavioral health
and mental health issues among public safety officers and
health care providers.
XI. Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of
H.R. 1646 is known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
XII. Committee Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
XIII. Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 1646 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
XIV. Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b) of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this
legislation.
XV. Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
XVI. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 designates that the short title may be cited as
the ``Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act of 2019'' or
the ``HERO Act of 2019''.
Sec. 2. Data system to capture national public safety officer suicide
incidence
Section 2 amends the Public Health Service Act by inserting
a new section that directs the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (the Secretary), in coordination with the Director of
CDC to develop and maintain the Public Safety Officer Suicide
Reporting System. This data system shall collect data on the
incidence of suicide among public safety officers; be
integrated into the National Violent Death Reporting System
under the Secretary's guidance; and help facilitate the study
of successful interventions to reduce suicide among public
safety officers. Further, in collecting data for the Public
Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall
insure the following information, at a minimum, is included:
the total number of suicides in the United States among all
public safety officers in a given calendar year; and the rates
of suicide for public safety officers in a calendar year,
disaggregated by age, gender, state, occupation, and, where
available, the status of the public safety officer.
In developing the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting
System, the Secretary is required to consult with non-Federal
experts to determine the best means to collect data regarding
suicide incidence in a safe, sensitive, anonymous, and
effective manner. Experts shall include public health experts,
organizations that track suicide among public safety officers,
mental health experts, clinicians, public safety officers, and
other relevant national police, fire, and emergency medical
service organizations. The Secretary shall ensure that all
applicable Federal privacy and security protections are
followed to ensure confidentiality and anonymity of suicide
victims and their families. Data shall also be sufficiently
secure to prevent unauthorized access.
Finally, section 2 requires that no later than two years
after the date of enactment of H.R. 1646 the Secretary shall
report to Congress on the incidence of suicide among public
safety officers, including the number and rate of suicide
incidence disaggregated by age, gender, and State of
employment; the characteristics and contributing circumstances
for suicide; recommendations for further study of suicide in
public safety officers; any obstacles in collecting suicide
rates; any recommendations for overcoming such obstacles;
interventions to reduce suicide incidence in public safety
officers; and procedures to ensure the confidentiality and
anonymity of suicide victims and their families. The report
shall continue biannually after the first report is delivered.
Sec. 3. Peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within
fire departments and emergency medical service agencies
Section 3 amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize
the Secretary to award grants to nonprofit organizations with
expertise and experience with respect to health and life safety
of members of fire and emergency service agencies. Such grants
are for the purposes of establishing or enhancing peer-support
behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments
and emergency medical service agencies. Programs funded under
this section shall utilize career and volunteer firefighters or
emergency medical services personnel to serve as peer
counselors; provide training to members of fire departments and
emergency medical service agencies to serve as peer counselors;
purchase materials to be used for training; and disseminate
information and materials necessary to conduct such programs.
Sec. 4. Health care provider behavioral health and wellness programs
Section 4 amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize
the Secretary to award grants to hospitals for the purposes of
establishing or enhancing behavioral health and wellness
programs for health care providers. Such programs shall provide
confidential support services for health providers to help
handle stressful or traumatic patient-related events, including
counseling services and wellness seminars; provide training to
health care providers to serve as peer counselors; purchase
materials to be used for such training; and disseminate
information and materials to conduct such training and peer
counseling.
Sec. 5. Development of resources for educating mental health
professionals about treating fire fighters and emergency
medical services personnel
Section 5 directs the Administrator of the United States
Fire Administration, in consultation with the Secretary to
develop and publicly release resources that may be used to
educate mental health professionals about the various aspects
of culture, stressors, challenges, and evidence-based therapies
for firefighters and emergency service personnel. In developing
these resources, the Administrator and Secretary shall also
consult with national fire and emergency medical services
organizations.
Sec. 6. Best practices and other resources for addressing posttraumatic
stress disorder in public safety officers
Section 6 directs the Secretary to develop evidence-based
practices and other resources to identify, prevent, and treat
posttraumatic stress disorders in public safety officers, and
to reassess and update such practices and resources based upon
interventions identified in the reports to Congress required
under section 2. In developing these best practices and
resources, the Secretary shall consult with public health
experts, mental health experts with experience in studying
suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress,
clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating mental
health issues; in addition to relevant national police, fire,
and emergency medical service organizations. Such information
must be available to Federal, State and local entities. The
Secretary must also incorporate education and training into
Federal training and development programs.
XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
* * * * * * *
Part B--Federal-State Cooperation
* * * * * * *
SEC. 317V. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
SUICIDE INCIDENCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
other agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall--
(1) develop and maintain a data system, to be known
as the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System,
for the purposes of--
(A) collecting data on the suicide incidence
among public safety officers; and
(B) facilitating the study of successful
interventions to reduce suicide among public
safety officers; and
(2) integrate such system into the National Violent
Death Reporting System, so long as the Secretary
determines such integration to be consistent with the
purposes described in paragraph (1).
(b) Data Collection.--In collecting data for the Public
Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall,
at a minimum, collect the following information:
(1) The total number of suicides in the United States
among all public safety officers in a given calendar
year.
(2) Suicide rates for public safety officers in a
given calendar year, disaggregated by--
(A) age and gender of the public safety
officer;
(B) State;
(C) occupation; including both the
individual's role in their public safety agency
and their primary occupation in the case of
volunteer public safety officers;
(D) where available, the status of the public
safety officer as volunteer, paid-on-call, or
career; and
(E) status of the public safety officer as
active or retired.
(c) Consultation During Development.--In developing the
Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary
shall consult with non-Federal experts to determine the best
means to collect data regarding suicide incidence in a safe,
sensitive, anonymous, and effective manner. Such non-Federal
experts shall include, as appropriate, the following:
(1) Public health experts with experience in
developing and maintaining suicide registries.
(2) Organizations that track suicide among public
safety officers.
(3) Mental health experts with experience in studying
suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress.
(4) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and
treating mental health issues.
(5) Active and retired volunteer, paid-on-call, and
career public safety officers.
(6) Relevant national police, and fire and emergency
medical services, organizations.
(d) Data Privacy and Security.--In developing and maintaining
the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the
Secretary shall ensure that all applicable Federal privacy and
security protections are followed to ensure that--
(1) the confidentiality and anonymity of suicide
victims and their families are protected, including so
as to ensure that data cannot be used to deny benefits;
and
(2) data is sufficiently secure to prevent
unauthorized access.
(e) Reporting.--
(1) Annual report.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of the Helping Emergency Responders
Overcome Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit a report to the Congress on the suicide
incidence among public safety officers. Each such
report shall--
(A) include the number and rate of such
suicide incidence, disaggregated by age,
gender, and State of employment;
(B) identify characteristics and contributing
circumstances for suicide among public safety
officers;
(C) disaggregate rates of suicide by--
(i) occupation;
(ii) status as volunteer, paid-on-
call, or career; and
(iii) status as active or retired;
(D) include recommendations for further study
regarding the suicide incidence among public
safety officers;
(E) specify in detail, if found, any
obstacles in collecting suicide rates for
volunteers and include recommended improvements
to overcome such obstacles;
(F) identify options for interventions to
reduce suicide among public safety officers;
and
(G) describe procedures to ensure the
confidentiality and anonymity of suicide
victims and their families, as described in
subsection (d)(1).
(2) Public availability.--Upon the submission of each
report to the Congress under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall make the full report publicly available
on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
(f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``public safety
officer'' means--
(1) a public safety officer as defined in section
1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968; or
(2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in
detailed occupation 43-5031 in the Standard
Occupational Classification Manual of the Office of
Management and Budget (2018).
(g) Prohibited Use of Information.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, if an individual is identified as deceased
based on information contained in the Public Safety Officer
Suicide Reporting System, such information may not be used to
deny or rescind life insurance payments or other benefits to a
survivor of the deceased individual.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 320B. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS WITHIN
FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing peer-
support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire
departments and emergency medical services agencies.
(b) Program Description.--A peer-support behavioral health
and wellness program funded under this section shall--
(1) use career and volunteer members of fire
departments or emergency medical services agencies to
serve as peer counselors;
(2) provide training to members of career, volunteer,
and combination fire departments or emergency medical
service agencies to serve as such peer counselors;
(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to
provide such training; and
(4) disseminate such information and materials as are
necessary to conduct the program.
(c) Definition.--In this section:
(1) The term ``eligible entity'' means a nonprofit
organization with expertise and experience with respect
to the health and life safety of members of fire and
emergency medical services agencies.
(2) The term ``member''--
(A) with respect to an emergency medical
services agency, means an employee, regardless
of rank or whether they receive compensation
(as defined in section 1204(7) of the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968);
and
(B) with respect to a fire department, means
a firefighter (as defined in section 1204(4) of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968).
SEC. 320C. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing
behavioral health and wellness programs for health care
providers.
(b) Program Description.--A behavioral health and wellness
program funded under this section shall--
(1) provide confidential support services for health
care providers to help handle stressful or traumatic
patient-related events, including counseling services
and wellness seminars;
(2) provide training to health care providers to
serve as peer counselors to other health care
providers;
(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to
provide such training; and
(4) disseminate such information and materials as are
necessary to conduct such training and provide such
peer counseling.
(c) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``eligible
entity'' means a hospital, including a critical access hospital
(as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social Security Act)
or a disproportionate share hospital (as defined under section
1923(a)(1)(A) of such Act), a Federally-qualified health center
(as defined in section 1905(1)(2)(B) of such Act), or any other
health care facility.
* * * * * * *
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CHILDREN'S HEALTH ACT OF 2000
* * * * * * *
DIVISION A--CHILDREN'S HEALTH
* * * * * * *
TITLE XVI--ORAL HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION
* * * * * * *
SEC. 1603. COORDINATED PROGRAM TO IMPROVE PEDIATRIC ORAL HEALTH
[Part B of the Public Health Service Act] Part B of title
III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``COORDINATED PROGRAM TO IMPROVE PEDIATRIC ORAL HEALTH.
``Sec. 320A. (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through
the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services
Administration, shall establish a program to fund innovative
oral health activities that improve the oral health of children
under 6 years of age who are eligible for services provided
under a Federal health program, to increase the utilization of
dental services by such children, and to decrease the incidence
of early childhood and baby bottle tooth decay.
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to or enter
into contracts with public or private nonprofit schools of
dentistry or accredited dental training institutions or
programs, community dental programs, and programs operated by
the Indian Health Service (including federally recognized
Indian tribes that receive medical services from the Indian
Health Service, urban Indian health programs funded under title
V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and tribes that
contract with the Indian Health Service pursuant to the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) to enable such
schools, institutions, and programs to develop programs of oral
health promotion, to increase training of oral health services
providers in accordance with State practice laws, or to
increase the utilization of dental services by eligible
children.
``(c) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this section,
the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure an
equitable national geographic distribution of the grants,
including areas of the United States where the incidence of
early childhood caries is highest.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for
each the fiscal years 2001 through 2005.''.
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