By Nick Garber, Patch Staff, October 1, 2019
Three bills signed Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom set up new programs, including peer support groups, for firefighters and first responders.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Firefighters and first responders will gain access to mental health support programs and become eligible for workers' compensation based on post-traumatic stress, under three bills signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
"The job of firefighters and first responders can be very rewarding, but at the same time, extremely unpredictable," Newsom said in a press release. "These bills are meant to ensure they have access to resources and help in their time of need, in the same way they assist their communities when they need them most."
One of the three laws, called the California Firefighter Peer Support and Crisis Referral Services Act, aims to set up a statewide network of peer support programs to help first responders with professional or emotional issues.
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