52:27D-25mm Establishment, maintenance of "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline.

2. a. The division, in conjunction with the university, shall establish and maintain, on a 24-hour daily basis, a toll-free "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. The hotline shall receive and respond to calls from fire and emergency services personnel who experience depression, anxiety, stress, or any other psychological or emotional disorder or condition. The operators of the hotline shall identify and refer callers to further debriefing and counseling services.

b. The operators of the hotline shall be trained by the division and the university, and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be persons who are: (1) familiar with the post-trauma disorders and psychological and emotional disorders and conditions that are frequently experienced by fire and emergency services personnel; or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions that may adversely affect fire and emergency services personnel.

c. The division and the university shall provide for the confidentiality of the names of the fire and emergency services personnel calling, the information discussed by a caller and operator, and any referrals for further debriefing or counseling. However, the division, after consultation with the university, may, by rule and regulation, establish guidelines for monitoring any fire or emergency services caller who exhibits signs of a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes may result in harm to the caller or any other person.

L.2019, c.309, s.2.