On July 1, bipartisan legislation was introduced – the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 9-1-1 Act, or the “PROTECT 9-1-1 Act” – that would address health and wellness for public safety telecommunicators by, among other things, developing best practices to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic stress disorder, establishing a system for tracking public safety telecommunicator suicides, and establishing funding opportunities for health and wellness programs in emergency communications centers. The bill was introduced by Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL), Norma Torres (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Peter Meijer (R-MI). APCO worked closely with Rep. Kelly’s office to craft this legislation for the benefit of APCO’s members and the nation’s 100,000 public safety telecommunicators who endure substantial stress as part of their work in emergency response. Read APCO’s press release on the legislation.
