HB254 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Connie C. Rowe

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Emergency responders, certified peer support member, certain communications priviledged

Summary

HB 254 would shield certain emergency responder communications with certified peer support members from disclosure and establish penalties for breaches.

What This Bill Does

It creates a privilege for communications between emergency responders and certified peer support members during peer support sessions, and allows the responder to waive that privilege. It also says certified peer support members cannot be forced to disclose the contents of those communications. The bill lists exceptions where the privilege does not apply, such as when the peer support member was involved in the incident, or disclosure is needed to prevent harm or to address a crime. It imposes a Class B misdemeanor on anyone who reveals privileged contents or pressures someone to disclose them.

Who It Affects

• Emergency responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians) who participate in peer support sessions, who would gain confidentiality for their communications.
• Certified peer support members, who would be required to keep communications confidential and could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor if they disclose them or pressure others to disclose.

Key Provisions

• Privileged communications: communications between an emergency responder and a certified peer support member during a peer support event are privileged and cannot be disclosed; the responder may waive the privilege; the peer support member cannot be compelled to disclose.
• Exceptions to privilege: privilege does not apply if the peer support member was an initial responder, a witness, or a party to the incident; or if disclosure is necessary to prevent a clear and imminent risk of harm, to forestall a serious threat to public safety, or if the communication reveals that a crime was committed.
• Penalties: a certified peer support member who reveals the contents of a privileged communication, or anyone who threatens or attempts to compel disclosure, is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
• Definitions and scope: defines certified peer support members, emergency responders, and peer support events for the purposes of this act.
• Effective date and local funds note: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage; the bill is treated as creating a new crime, which places it outside certain local funds requirements.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Emergency Responders