Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: November 13, 2023 Contact: Steve McCarthy, Senior Staff Attorney
2023 Assembly Bill 576 Assembly Amendment 1
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 576
Assembly Bill 576 requires the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish and implement a
program under which a law enforcement agency, a tribal law enforcement agency, a fire protection or
emergency medical service agency, or any other agency that employs law enforcement officers, tribal
law enforcement officers, correctional officers, jail officers, juvenile detention officers, fire fighters,
dispatchers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, public safety
personnel, or ambulance service provider personnel, may establish peer support teams and critical
incident stress management (CISM) services teams.
DOJ must organize a program of training required for membership on a peer support team or CISM
team to provide peer support services or CISM services. The bill requires the Law Enforcement
Standards Board (LESB) to establish minimum curriculum standards for the training programs and to
coordinate with the Department of Health Services, the state fire marshal, and any other relevant
agency or entity it determines appropriate to advise the LESB in establishment of the curriculum.
The bill provides that an individual may not provide peer support services unless that individual
successfully completes a peer support training program required for membership on a peer support
team. An individual may not provide CISM services unless that individual successfully completes a
CISM services training program required for membership on a CISM services team. The LESB must
prescribe the means for presenting evidence of fulfillment of these requirements. In order to qualify as a
peer support or CISM services team member, an individual shall successfully complete an approved
peer support training program.
An agency that establishes a team must develop written guidelines for the team and its members,
including officially designating individuals as team members who have successfully completed
approved training.
Except for actions for medical malpractice, the bill provides a liability exemption for peer support teams
and team members and CISM services teams and team members providing peer support or CISM
services. The bill also establishes certain privileged protections for communications with peer support
team members and CISM services team members.
ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1
The amendment makes the following changes to the bill:
Expands the definition of agencies that may establish peer support teams and CISM teams to also
include “a nonprofit organization that employs, represents, or serves” law enforcement officers,
tribal law enforcement officers, correctional officers, jail officers, juvenile detention officers, fire
fighters, dispatchers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners,
public safety personnel, or ambulance service provider personnel. - 2 -
Removes the LESB’s role in the bill, providing instead that DOJ must establish and implement a
program for the establishment of peer support teams and critical incident stress management
services teams, and organize a program of training for membership on a peer support team to
provide peer support services.
Modifies the requirements for qualifying as a peer support team or CISM team member, and
providing peer support or CISM services. Specifically, the amendment provides that in order to
qualify as a peer support team member or a CISM services team member, an individual shall attend
a peer support training program provided through the DOJ or, at a minimum, a training program by
a credentialed health care provider who, through education, training, or experience, is qualified to
provide peer support training or critical incident stress management services training. An individual
may not provide peer support or CISM services unless that individual successfully completes a peer
support or CISM training program.
BILL HISTORY
On November 9, 2023, Representative Kitchens offered Assembly Amendment 1. On the same day, the
Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention voted to recommend adoption
of the amendment, and passage of the bill, as amended, on votes of Ayes, 11; Noes, 1.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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