Judy Kramer
County Reporter
Governor Mike Parson signed SB 24 into law on July 6, providing those working in emergency telephone services a change in status from clerical personnel to first responders. The bill adds “telecommunicator first responder” to the definition of “first responder” in various provisions of law. The bill took effect on August 28 and now gives 9-1-1 employees access to mental health services through the creation of a health fund.
“We are the first point of contact with those in need and we haven’t had access to mental health services like we should have,” said Jessica Mayfield, Director of Communications, MO 9-1-1 Directors Association – Region 2 Representative, Benton County Central Dispatch. "We are now getting recognition. I have purchased a banner to display out front of our building that states ‘9-1-1 Dispatchers, The FIRST First Responders’. This is big news happening within 9-1-1 throughout the state of Missouri.”
www.senate.mo.gov states that this act establishes post-traumatic stress disorder, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition, as a compensable occupational disease under workers’ compensation when diagnosed in first responders, as defined in by law.
SB 24 also modifies a requirement for emergency medical dispatchers to complete an emergency medical dispatcher course that meets or exceeds the national curriculum of the U.S. Department of Health. Instead, rulemaking authority is transferred to the Missouri 911 Service Board. This board shall develop rules and regulations, in collaboration with an Oversight Committee that has been established, relating to the medical aspects of pre-arrival medical instructions, and will set the standards for the state of Missouri. Director Mayfield has been appointed to sit on this Oversight Committee and states she is looking forward to making positive change within 9-1-1 for Missouri.
Officers of the Missouri Chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, the National Emergency Number Association, and the Missouri 9-1-1 Directors Association, sent a letter to members of these organizations stating that they commended association lobbyist Scott Penman and Kaycee Nail of Penman Group for their hard work and dedication during this legislative session. The letter gave them credit for getting this bill through this legislative session, when without their help it might have taken longer than two sessions. Also thanked were Senators Lincoln Hough and Elaine Gannon, Representatives Chad Perkins and Robert Sauls who made it one of their priorities to get this legislation to the floor, and Governor Parson for seeing and agreeing with the need laid out in these priorities.
SB 24 also provided new provisions relating to other vulnerable persons.
