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HB 486

AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Shane Baker and 24 co-sponsors

Creates a formal, confidential mental health and wellness program for Kentucky first responders with funded support, peer/counseling services, cross-state access, and post-incident

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Bill Summary · HB 486

Summary of HB 486 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Title

AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders. Also known as Gavin's Rights.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create and fund a formal mental health and wellness program for firefighters and rescue squad members in Kentucky.
  • Provide structured peer support, counseling, and access to wellness resources to reduce negative mental and behavioral health outcomes among first responders.
  • Extend program access to volunteer and professional firefighters and rescue squad members, with limited cross-state participation if invited.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1: Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program

  • Establishment: The Kentucky Fire Commission shall establish the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program for firefighters and rescue squad members.
  • Participants: Open to Kentucky professional and volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members; participation is available at least twice per calendar year.
  • Cross-state participation: On a limited basis, may include firefighters/rescue squad members from other states if approved by the executive director, but no Kentucky members can be denied admission if non-Kentucky participants are admitted.
  • Regulatory framework: The Commission must promulgate administrative regulations under KRS Chapter 13A covering:
    • Qualifications and duties of program staff
    • Curriculum, seminar type, and treatment modalities
    • Involvement of relatives/friends in seminars
    • Standards for accepting out-of-state participants
    • Reciprocity protocols with other states, federal, and tribal agencies
  • Interagency access: Agreement with the Division of Emergency Management to provide rescue squad members access to the program.
  • Confidentiality and privileges:
    • Communications and participation records are confidential and privileged from civil/criminal discovery, with the participant holding the privilege.
    • Anonymized data may be used for research and education.
    • Certain threats of violence may be disclosed to prevent harm, under a protocol aligned with KRS 202A.400.
  • Funding: Creation of a restricted fund in the State Treasury (professional development and wellness fund) to be administered by the Commission. Funding sources include:
    • Firefighters Foundation Program Fund, grants, gifts, state appropriations, and federal funds
    • Funds carry forward year-to-year; earnings remain in the fund
    • Funds are dedicated to program administration only
  • Critical incidents and leave:
    • Defines a “critical incident” as events with a high stress impact (e.g., injuries/deaths, assaults, multiple fatalities, etc.).
    • Affected personnel may take up to 48 hours of leave immediately following a critical incident.
    • Leave can be paid or unpaid for regular firefighters (depends on contracts/policies), and may be paid or unpaid for volunteers and rescue squad members per departmental/divisional policies.

Section 2: Interagency Agreement with Kentucky Fire Division

  • The Division must enter into an agreement with the Kentucky Fire Commission to provide rescue squad members access to the program.

Section 3: Citation

  • The act may be cited as Gavin's Rights.

Who is affected

  • Kentucky professional and volunteer firefighters.
  • Kentucky rescue squad members.
  • Potentially, volunteer and professional firefighters/rescue squad members from other states when invited.
  • Agencies: Kentucky Fire Commission, Division of Emergency Management, and related local fire departments and rescue squads.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Effective and operative provisions align with the standard regulatory process for implementing state programs (regulations to be developed under KRS Chapter 13A).
  • The act references funding and ongoing program administration, with annual carry-forward of funds and eligible interagency arrangements.
  • The House passed the bill (as indicated by the action history) and sent it to the Senate for consideration.

Overall impact

HB 486 aims to formalize a statewide mental health and wellness framework for first responders, including confidential support, cross-state collaboration potential, dedicated funding, and structured leave provisions following critical incidents. The measure emphasizes peer-based and professional support while protecting privacy, enabling research use of anonymized data, and facilitating interagency cooperation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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