{"data":{"id":"us-mt/7-32-602","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"7-32-602","heading":"Local first responder peer support programs.","body":"(1) A police department, sheriff's office, fire department, or emergency medical service provider may establish a first responder peer support program that is in compliance with the provisions of this section.\n(2) A local first responder peer support program must have a written policy that outlines, at a minimum:\n(a) qualifications for a peer supporter, including certification and continuing education requirements;\n(b) guidelines for what constitutes a peer support session from a conversation between peers;\n(c) definitions for a group debrief and peer support team;\n(d) the prohibition of recording in writing or by video or audio any peer support session;\n(e) how peer supporters in the program shall comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. 1320d, et seq.;\n(f) the ability of an employee to use multiple peer supporters;\n(g) the protection of an employee from being forced to use a peer supporter who holds supervisory authority over the employee;\n(h) the prohibition of harassment or discrimination against an employee or volunteer who seeks services from the peer support program; and\n(i) confidentiality protections of the peer support program, including the following exceptions:\n(i) if the employee has committed or plans to commit a crime;\n(ii) if the employee indicates the employee will cause harm to themself or to others;\n(iii) if there is a request from an appropriate licensing board or program; and\n(iv) if the mandatory reporting requirements of licensing boards or programs apply.\n(3) A peer support session is confidential, and, except as provided in subsection (2)(i), a qualified peer supporter in a local first responder peer support program is prohibited from providing testimony about a peer support session, including individual and group peer support sessions.","path":["TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT","CHAPTER 32. LAW ENFORCEMENT","Part 6. First Responder Support"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0070/chapter_0320/part_0060/section_0020/0070-0320-0060-0020.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:45:47Z","sha256":"fa46a4ad72f24a9f4efa4bee1b2d10cff913ddb135c567b803174874b51b8079","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/7-32-601","next":"us-mt/7-32-2101"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}