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<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="3-523" title_number="3" title_name="Law Enforcement" subtitle_number="5">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Employee assistance program” means a work–based program offered to all police officers that provides access to voluntary and confidential services to address the mental health issues of a police officer stemming from personal and work–related concerns, including stress, financial issues, legal issues, family problems, office conflicts, and alcohol and substance abuse disorders.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Law enforcement agency” has the meaning stated in § 3–201 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Police officer” has the meaning stated in § 3–201 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Each law enforcement agency shall provide access to an employee assistance program for all police officers whom the law enforcement agency employs.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The employee assistance program required by this section shall provide police officers access to confidential mental health services, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>counseling services;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>crisis counseling;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>stress management counseling;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>resiliency sessions; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>peer support services for police officers.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In addition to the requirements of § 3–516 of this subtitle and subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, as part of the employee assistance program required by this section, before a police officer returns to full duty, a law enforcement agency shall provide:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a voluntary mental health consultation and voluntary counseling services to the police officer if the police officer is involved in an incident involving an accident resulting in a fatality; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a mandatory mental health consultation and voluntary counseling services to the police officer if the police officer is involved in an incident involving:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a serious injury to the police officer;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>an officer–involved shooting; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>any use of force resulting in a fatality or serious injury.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A mental health consultation and counseling service provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be confidential.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The employee assistance program required by this section shall include a component designed to protect the mental health of police officers during periods of public demonstrations and unrest.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Each law enforcement agency shall develop a policy to provide access to the services required by this section at no cost to a police officer.</text>
  </level>
</section>
