SB 102 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE CERTIFICATION OF MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING PROGRAMS.

Substitute Senate GeneralBill Assembly File No.

418102 JanuaryPublic Session,Act 2021 Substitute Senate Bill No.

10221-134 Senate,AN AprilACT 13,CONCERNING 2021THE TheCERTIFICATION CommitteeOF onMENTAL PublicHEALTH HealthFIRST reportedAID throughTRAINING SEN.PROGRAMS.

DAUGHERTY ABRAMS of the 13th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE CERTIFICATION OF MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING PROGRAMS.

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an applicant for a license as a paramedic shall submit evidence satisfactory to theCommissioner ofPublic Healththat the applicant hassuccessfully (1) completed a paramedic training program approved by the commissioner, (2) for applicants applying on and after January 1, 2020, completedcompletedmentalhealthfirst mentalhealthfirst aidtraining aspart ofaprogramprovided by an instructor certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health or any other certifying organization with substantially similar certification requirements, as determined by the commissioner, and (3) passed an examination prescribed by the commissioner.

sSB102(b) /An Fileapplicant for licensure by endorsement shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (1) is licensed or certified as a paramedic in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to Substitute Senate Bill No.

418102 1or sSB102higher Filethan No.those of this state and that the applicant has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint against him or her, or (2) (A) is currently licensed or certified as a paramedic in good standing in any New England state, New York or New Jersey, (B) has completed an initial training program consistent with the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards, as promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the paramedic scope of practice model conducted by an organization offering a program that is recognized by the national emergency medical services program accrediting organization, (C) for applicants applying on or after January 1, 2020, has completed mental health first aid training as part of a program provided by an instructor certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health or any other certifying organization with substantially similar certification requirements, as determined by the commissioner,and(D)hasnopendingdisciplinaryactionorunresolved complaint against him or her.

418Approved (b)July An7, applicant2021 forPublic licensureAct byNo. endorsement shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (1) is licensed or certified as a paramedic in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state and that the applicant has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint against him or her, or (2) (A) is currently licensed or certified as a paramedic in good standing in any New England state, New York or New Jersey, (B) has completed an initial training program consistent with the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards, as promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the paramedic scope of practice model conducted by an organization offering a program that is recognized by the national emergency medical services program accrediting organization, (C) for applicants applying on or after January 1, 2020, has completed mental health first aid training as part of a program provided by an instructor certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health or any other certifying organization with substantially similar certification requirements, as determined by the commissioner,and(D)hasnopendingdisciplinaryactionorunresolved complaint against him or her.

This21-134 act2 shallof take2 effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 from passage 20-206mm(a) and (b) PH Joint Favorable Subst.

sSB102 / File No.

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418 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation Current law requires applicants for paramedic licensure to have successfully completed mental health first aid training provided by a National Council for Behavioral Health-certified instructor.

This bill allows applicants to complete this training by other organizations with substantially similar certification requirements.

This bill has no fiscal impact as the Department of Public Health has the staff expertise to handle this requirement.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sSB102 / File No.

418 3 sSB102 File No.

418 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 102 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CERTIFICATION OF MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING PROGRAMS.

SUMMARY Current law requires applicants for paramedic licensure to have successfully completed mental health first aid training provided by a National Council for Behavioral Health-certified instructor.

This bill additionally allows applicants to have completed this training provided by other organizations with substantially similar certification requirements, as determined by the public health commissioner.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Upon passage COMMITTEE ACTION Public Health Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 33 Nay 0 (03/26/2021) sSB102 / File No.

418 4