HB 621 authorizes local first responder agencies in Montana — including police departments, sheriff’s offices, fire departments, and emergency medical service providers — to create peer support programs for employees and volunteers. The bill sets minimum policy requirements for those programs, such as defining who may serve as a peer supporter, requiring certification and continuing education, establishing what counts as a peer support session, and prohibiting the recording of sessions in writing, audio, or video. It also requires programs to address HIPAA compliance, allow employees to use more than one peer supporter, prevent employees from being forced to use a supervisor as a peer supporter, and bar harassment or discrimination against those who seek support.
The bill makes peer support sessions confidential and generally shields qualified peer supporters from being compelled to testify about what was said in a session. It creates limited exceptions to confidentiality, including when an employee has committed or plans to commit a crime, when the employee indicates an intent to harm self or others, and when licensing-board reporting obligations apply. The bill also includes technical cross-references tied to Senate Bill 518, adjusting language if both measures are enacted.
In practical terms, HB 621 adds a new framework to Title 7, chapter 32, governing local first responder peer support programs and the confidentiality of those services. It does not require agencies to create such programs, but it gives them express authority to do so and sets statewide standards for how they must operate if adopted. The measure primarily affects local public safety employers, peer supporters, and employees or volunteers who seek mental health or emotional support through these programs.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable. It passed the House and Senate with broad support, including unanimous committee approval in the House Local Government Committee and unanimous House floor votes at multiple stages. In the Senate, the bill still advanced comfortably, though with some dissent on second and third reading, suggesting limited but real concern about aspects of the measure. The final House concurrence in Senate amendments was unanimous, indicating that any remaining disagreements were resolved.
The main points of contention appear to have centered on the scope of confidentiality and the exceptions to it, especially the references to mandatory reporting and licensing-board involvement. The bill’s interaction with Senate Bill 518 also suggests lawmakers were coordinating related policy changes to ensure consistent reporting language. Overall, however, the legislation was treated as a supportive workplace and mental health measure for first responders rather than a controversial policy change.
HB 621 amends Montana law by creating express statutory authority for local first responder peer support programs and by placing those programs within Title 7, chapter 32. It establishes minimum operational and confidentiality standards for participating agencies and limits compelled testimony by qualified peer supporters, while preserving specified exceptions for criminal conduct, threats of harm, and professional reporting obligations. The bill affects local law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies that choose to adopt such programs, as well as employees and volunteers who use them.
The bill appears to have enjoyed broad bipartisan support throughout the legislative process. It passed committee and floor votes overwhelmingly, with several unanimous votes and only modest opposition in the Senate on second and third reading. The final concurrence in Senate amendments was unanimous in the House, indicating that the measure was generally viewed as a constructive first responder support policy.
The most notable areas of concern were the confidentiality rules and the exceptions to them, particularly the circumstances under which peer supporters may disclose information or be required to report it. The bill also had technical coordination issues with Senate Bill 518, requiring conforming language changes to references involving licensing boards or programs. The limited Senate opposition suggests some lawmakers may have been cautious about balancing peer support confidentiality with public safety and mandatory reporting obligations.