Concerning the privilege for peer support group counselors (HB 2611)
HB 2611 would give Community Corrections officers and specialists the same post-incident privileged communications protections as other law enforcement officers when talking to peer support counselors.
PRIORITY DOC PEER SUPPORT, SHARED LEAVE BILLS PASS SENATE - UNANIMOUSLY
2/28/18 The state Senate Wednesday morning (Feb. 28) passed our priority bill (HB 2611) that would give Community Corrections officers and specialists the same post-incident privileged communications protections as other law enforcement officers when talking to peer support counselors.
“We should be able to talk to a counselor as soon as possible and those statements should be protected,” Local 443 member John Tulloch testified earlier this session.
HB 2611 passed the Senate 49-0. There were no amendments, clearing its way to the governor’s desk for signing into law.
2/26/18 HB 2611 is on Second Reading in the Senate. It must pass a vote of the Senate by Mar 3.
2/19/18 How one DOC member’s story moved his legislator to action
The sponsor of the good bill (HB 2611) that already unanimously passed the House said the idea of protecting the integrity of post-incident counseling and peer support came from a new awareness brought to him by one of his constituents.
Rep. Andrew Barkis of the 2nd Dist. said John Tulloch, a Community Corrections specialist and member of Local 443, told him that the dangerous work he and his colleagues do often involves “critical incidents” that may involve use of force.
“I was very surprised,” Barkis told the Senate Law and Justice Committee Monday (Feb. 19). “I had no idea.”
Barkis said he was also surprised to learn that unlike other law enforcement professionals, Tulloch and his colleagues don’t enjoy the same kind of privileged communications, like the attorney-client privilege.
That made them “very skeptical” when talking to peer support counselors.
Barkis praised Tulloch for doing what citizens should do when they see something as important as this that should be changed for the good: Calling on legislators to listen and act.
Tulloch as he did in the House hearing explained to the Senate committee that DOC staff are still held to the same standard as other law enforcement professionals.
“We should be able to talk to a counselor as soon as possible and those statements should be protected,” Tulloch said.
Law enforcement professionals in other agencies, including Parks and the Liquor and Cannabis Board, also face the same lack of privileged communications for peer support counseling.
“Peer support by its very nature is comforting and provides a person with a person who understands what they are going through and allows them to validate and support that person,”said Ton Johnson, the Federation’s law enforcement labor advocate. “That’s critical in ensuring that staff feel protected.”
- The committee has set a vote on HB 2611 for Thursday (Feb. 22).
2/14/18 PRIORITY BILL FOR DOC MEMBERS PASSES HOUSE The state House yesterday (Feb. 13) unanimously passed the peer-support counselor bill called for by our DOC members.
- HB 2611 passed the House Tuesday on a vote of 98-0. It now goes to the Senate.
2/7/18 Community Corrections/peer support privileged communications – HB 2611 is on the Second Reading Calendar for a vote of the full House.