Title
Implementing Public Safety Traumatic Event Counseling - HB 2502 (Ordinance S-44857)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to amend contract number 145018-1 with ComPsych Corporation, the current City Employee Assistance Program (EAP) vendor, to provide Public Safety Traumatic Event Counseling as mandated by the State of Arizona - House Bill 2502. Due to the additional work required to administer this new program, approval also is requested to convert an existing part-time position to full-time. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item throughout the life of the contract.
Report
Summary
The Arizona State Legislature passed House Bill 2502 this year and Governor Ducey signed it into law in May 2018. The bill, which becomes effective Aug. 3, 2018, requires public sector employers, such as the City of Phoenix, to pay for up to 36 counseling sessions with a licensed mental health professional of their choice, plus wages, when a police officer or firefighter witnesses or experiences one of six types of trauma while on duty:
- Visually witnessing the death or maiming or visually witnessing the immediate aftermath of such a death or maiming of one or more human beings.
- Responding to or being directly involved in a criminal investigation of an offense involving a dangerous crime against children as defined in section 13-705.
- Using deadly force or being subjected to deadly force in the line of duty, regardless of whether the police officer or firefighter was physically injured.
- Requiring rescue in the line of duty where one’s life was endangered.
- Witnessing the death of another firefighter or police officer while engaged in the line of duty.
- Responding to or being directly involved in an investigation regarding the drowning or near drowning of a child.
The bill also requires public sector employers to track and report to the State of Arizona in September each year the following:
- Total number of participants in the employer’s program. (How many firefighters and police officers had at least one counseling visit for one of these reasons.)
- Average number of visits per person. (Total number of visits divided by total number of participants.)
- Average number of months the persons participated in the program.
- Total number of persons deemed not fit for duty by a licensed mental health professional.
- The percentage of persons who received more than 12 visits within one year after the first visit.
- The amount of work missed by each category of persons who participated and how missed work was provided for: by the employer or through employee benefits, i.e. short-term disability.
- Average number of days the persons who participated missed work.
- Which employees subsequently filed a workers’ compensation claim and the number of claims approved or denied.
Financial Impact
Based on recent national studies of the prevalence of trauma for all reasons within the public safety profession, it is estimated that two percent of the City’s police officers and firefighters will fully utilize this program each year, at a cost of approximately $595,000. The total cost of this contract and all related services will be allocated to the Police and Fire departments' operating budgets.
Contract Term
This action is only adding funds to an existing contract, and will not change the previously approved contract terms.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Acting Deputy City Manager Toni Maccarone and the Human Resources Department.