53-21-102. Mental health services -- Requirement to provide -- Eligibility -- Confidentiality -- Requests -- Reporting noncompliance -- Designation.

421 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-53/chapter-21/53-21-102

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Effective 5/6/2026

(1)As used in this section, "public safety portal" means the data portal created in Section 63A-16-1002 .

(2)Every first responder agency within the state shall provide or make available mental health resources to:

(a)all first responders;

(b)the spouse and children of first responders;

(c)surviving spouses of first responders whose death is classified as a line-of-duty death under Title 49, Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benefit Act;

(d)retired or separated first responders for at least three years from the date that the retired or separated first responder requests mental health resources, regardless of any subsequent employment as a non-first responder; and

(e)spouses of retired or separated first responders for at least three years from the date that the spouse of the retired or separated first responder requests mental health resources, regardless of any subsequent employment as a non-first responder.

(3)All access by first responders and their families to mental health resources shall be kept confidential.

(4)A first responder agency shall:

(a)annually provide information to all employed first responders regarding:

(i)the availability of mental health resources under this section, including:

(A)for individuals in addition to the first responders as described in Subsection

(2); and

(B)subsequent to a separation or retirement;

(ii)how to access the mental health resources under this section; and

(iii)directions on how to appeal a denial of mental health resources under this section to the department, as provided under Section 53-21-104.3 ; and

(i)assign a designated mental health resources liaison;

(ii)inform the department of the identity of the designated mental health resources liaison; and

(iii)update the department as to the identity of the designated mental health resources liaison when a new individual is assigned.

(i)The department shall annually submit a report to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee, on or before the date of the committee's November meeting, on first responder agencies' compliance with this section.

(ii)The department may fulfill the requirement described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) by conducting a survey of first responder agencies and reporting the first responder agencies' responses related to the first responder agencies' compliance with this section.

(b)The department shall submit a copy of the report described in Subsection (5)(a) to the public safety portal as described in Section 63A-16-1002 .

Amended by Chapter 469 , 2026 General Session