Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
Filed: 5/15/2024
 
 

 
 

 
10300SB3538ham002LRB103 36871 JDS 73494 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3538 

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3538, AS AMENDED, 
3by adding Section 15 in its proper numeric sequence as 
4follows:
 
5    "Section 15. The Fire Protection District Act is amended 
6by adding Section 6.3 as follows:
 
7    (70 ILCS 705/6.3 new)
8    Sec. 6.3. Mental health counseling. 
9    (a) As used in this Section: 
10    "First responders" means firefighters, emergency medical 
11services personnel, as that term is defined in Section 3.5 of 
12the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, dispatched 
13pursuant to a 9-1-1 call, emergency medical dispatchers, as 
14that term is defined in Section 3.70 of the Emergency Medical 
15Services (EMS) Systems Act, and public safety 
16telecommunicators, as that term is defined in Section 2 of the 
 
 
10300SB3538ham002- 2 -LRB103 36871 JDS 73494 a

1Emergency Telephone System Act. 
2    "Mental health counseling" means counseling therapy 
3sessions provided by a clinical social worker, professional 
4counselor, or licensed psychologist. 
5    (b) If a fire protection district is a self-insurer for 
6purposes of providing health insurance coverage for its 
7employees, the insurance coverage shall include, on and after 
8June 1, 2025, mental health counseling for any employee who is 
9a first responder without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, 
10copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the 
11coverage provided, except that this Section does not apply to 
12the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible 
13health plan from eligibility for a health savings account 
14pursuant to Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code.".