(1) “Communication” means an oral or written statement, note, record, recording, report, or document made during, or arising out of, a first responder’s receipt of CISM services or peer support services.

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(3) “Critical incident stress” means the acute or cumulative psychological stress or trauma that a first responder may experience in providing emergency services in response to a critical incident. The stress or trauma is an unusually strong emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or physical reaction that may interfere with normal functioning by causing:

(A) physical and emotional injury or illness;

(B) failure of a usual coping mechanism;

(C) loss of interest in work or normal life activities;

(D) loss of ability to function; or

(E) psychological disruption of personal life, including the emergency responder’s relationship with a spouse, child, relative, or friend.

(4) “CISM services” means critical incident stress management services that include programs and services related to education, prevention, and mitigation of the effects from exposure to highly stressful critical incidents. The term includes services provided by an individual certified to provide group crisis intervention, individual crisis intervention, peer support, or any related service.

(5) “CISM services provider” means an individual who is certified to provide CISM services and who is acting as part of a CISM team or in another official capacity.

(6) “CISM team” means an organized community or local crisis response team that is trained and certified under standards substantially similar to the training and certification standards established by the Indiana emergency medical services commission as set forth under IC 16-31-2.

(7) “First responder” has the meaning set forth in IC 10-10.5-2-1.

(8) “First responder recipient” means an individual who is a first responder and receives CISM services, peer support services, or both.

(9) “Peer support services” means services provided by a person who:

(A) is a first responder working for the same department or public agency that the first responder recipient works for; and

(B) acts:

(i) in the person’s official capacity as a peer support team member; and

(ii) within the written peer support guidelines that are in effect for the person’s respective first responder agency program.

The term includes active listening, assessment, mentoring, crisis intervention, or other support services provided to an employee experiencing personal or professional difficulties that may or may not be a result of the employee’s exposure to highly stressful critical incidents.

(10) “Peer support team member” means a first responder who:

(A) has successfully completed peer support training; and

(B) is designated a peer support team member;

by the head of the first responder’s agency or the president of the bargaining unit of the employees of the department or agency.

As added by P.L.137-2017, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.7-2021, SEC.2.