February 13, 2020

Contact Name: Sara Persechino

Phone: (603) 271-3479

Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us

CONCORD - Today, the Senate passed SB 634 on consent, which establishes a peer support program in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Prime sponsor Senator Jon Morgan (D-Brentwood) first presented this bill to the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee at the request of DHHS in response to the growing need for state employees dealing with trauma on a regular basis, particularly caseworkers for the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), to have a space to debrief in a safe and confidential setting.

After the vote, prime sponsor Senator Jon Morgan (D-Brentwood) issued the following statement:

“These are difficult jobs that require people to address the mental health crisis, the opioid crisis, and other traumatic issues on a daily basis. By codifying the peer support program into law, we create statutory privileges that guarantee it is confidential and our caseworkers and related state employees have a space to debrief among people sharing in their experiences. This bill came at the request of DHHS and I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for their swift work on this important issue.”

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