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.

Follow Maya Prabhu on facebookFollow Maya Prabhu on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Voting signs are shown outside of a voting precinct during the state house runoff in District 106 at the Praise Community Church in Gwinnett County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Lawrenceville, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Athens area voters to decide new state representative in special election

With a state House seat in Athens open, Republicans are looking to preserve the seat while Democrats are hoping to flip it.

3m ago

Akbar Ali wins Gwinnett state House seat in runoff election

Democrats Akbar Ali defeated Democrat Marqus Cole in a runoff special election Tuesday to represent House District 106, which covers portions of Lawrenceville and Snellville.

Teen GOP activist steps down from party leadership post

Greene County native and University of North Georgia student Ja’Quon Stembridge, 19, had run on boosting youth involvement in the party.

The Latest

Voting signs are shown outside of a voting precinct during the state house runoff in District 106 at the Praise Community Church in Gwinnett County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Lawrenceville, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Athens area voters to decide new state representative in special election

3m ago

Akbar Ali wins Gwinnett state House seat in runoff election

Special election for state House seat in Cherokee County set for Dec. 9

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo

A 30-year-old’s overdose sparked a new law. Now courts are testing how far it can go.

Austin’s Law, passed in 2024, is leading to convictions of fentanyl dealers after a father’s fight for justice following his son’s overdose death.

Jared Curtis isn’t the only Georgia football storyline to watch on signing day

What will National Signing Day look like? It is starting to materialize significant storylines.

Search for inmate who escaped from Grady hospital enters second day

Timothy Shane is accused of stealing an SUV and then crashing it during the getaway, according to authorities.