Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act or the HERO Act This bill establishes and authorizes behavioral health programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, 9-1-1 operators, and other public safety officers. Specifically, the Fire Administration within the Federal Emergency Management Agency must develop resources for educating mental health care providers about treating firefighters and emergency medical services personnel. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop best practices and resources for identifying, preventing, and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety officers. HHS must work with relevant federal departments to incorporate these resources into federal training programs for public safety officers. The bill also authorizes HHS to set up a public safety officer suicide-reporting system and a grant program for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.
Census and government statisticsCongressional oversightEmployment and training programsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTax-exempt organizationsWorker safety and health
HERO Act
USA118th CongressS-1925| Senate
| Updated: 6/12/2023
Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act or the HERO Act This bill establishes and authorizes behavioral health programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, 9-1-1 operators, and other public safety officers. Specifically, the Fire Administration within the Federal Emergency Management Agency must develop resources for educating mental health care providers about treating firefighters and emergency medical services personnel. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop best practices and resources for identifying, preventing, and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety officers. HHS must work with relevant federal departments to incorporate these resources into federal training programs for public safety officers. The bill also authorizes HHS to set up a public safety officer suicide-reporting system and a grant program for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.
Census and government statisticsCongressional oversightEmployment and training programsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTax-exempt organizationsWorker safety and health