Law Enforcement Partners,

I’m happy to be able to share that Governor Evers recently signed into law legislation that creates new protections for communications made between law enforcement officers and peer support specialists, including a testimonial privilege, under certain circumstances. 

Wisconsin DOJ has been working with legislators on this concept for several years, and I’m thankful that this legislation has now been enacted. As you are acutely aware, law enforcement officers regularly must face difficult and sometimes tragic circumstances. Wellness initiatives such as peer support programs can improve officers’ wellbeing, officer retention, and public safety.

The new law, 2023 Wisconsin Act 220, requires DOJ to create and implement a program for the establishment of peer support teams and critical incident stress management services teams and to organize a training program that will be required for membership on a peer support team. Law enforcement agencies will then be permitted to establish peer support teams and critical incident stress management services teams whose members can be designated as team members under the statute if the agency has developed written guidelines for the team and its members and complies with other relevant rules. In order to qualify as a peer support team member under the statute, an individual must attend a peer support training program provided by DOJ or a credentialed health care provider.

While the effective date of the new law was March 29, 2024, DOJ will need to promulgate administrative rules detailing procedures for the establishment of peer support and critical incident stress management services teams and the designation of individuals as team members. This process takes some time, and we will keep you updated as it moves forward.

We look forward to the successful implementation of this legislation, and we hope to continue to partner with you to support officer wellbeing and to address recruitment and retention challenges.

Thanks,

Josh

Joshua L. Kaul                                                                                                                  Attorney General