Correctional personnel: peer support.

Existing law authorizes the state, a local or regional public fire agency, or a local or regional law enforcement agency to establish a peer support and crisis referral program to provide a network of peers available to aid fellow emergency services or law enforcement personnel on emotional or professional issues. Existing law authorizes emergency services or law enforcement personnel to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a confidential communication between them and a peer support team member, crisis hotline staff member, or crisis referral service, except under limited circumstances, including in a criminal proceeding. Under existing law, a person providing peer support services, as specified, and the agency that employs that person are not liable for damages, except in an action for medical malpractice, relating to an act, error, or omission in performing peer support services, unless the act, error, or omission constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct. This bill would authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a peer support and crisis referral program until January 1, 2024. The bill would extend the above-described confidentiality protections to correctional personnel who participate in a peer support and crisis referral program and would extend the above-described liability protections to the department and correctional employees who are peer support team members. The bill would require the department to establish a peer support advisory committee to advise, assist, support, and advocate for the program, and to establish a selection panel to screen and process applications, interviews, and member selection for the committee.