Politics
Politics

Georgia aims to extend peer counseling to all public safety officers

Members of the Pickens County Sheriffs Office salute the procession during the funeral of Polk County police Detective Kristen Hearne. A House bill would create a state-run peer-counseling program for first responders throughout the state to seek help with emotional concerns. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Members of the Pickens County Sheriffs Office salute the procession during the funeral of Polk County police Detective Kristen Hearne. A House bill would create a state-run peer-counseling program for first responders throughout the state to seek help with emotional concerns. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By
March 27, 2018

A bill expanding public safety officers' access to counseling unanimously cleared the Georgia Senate on Tuesday.

The state-run program would use peer counseling to address the emotional needs of those working in fields ranging from state Department of Transportation road workers to police officers and prison guards.

Since 2005, the state has had a program that trained law enforcement officers to talk to their peers through emotionally difficult times.

House Bill 703, sponsored by former head of the Georgia State Patrol and state Rep. Bill Hitchens, R-Rincon, would extend that service to first responders at all levels of government.

Senators made small changes to the legislation, so it will be considered again by the House before it can head to Gov. Nathan Deal for his approval.

About the Author

Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.

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