Officer Wellness and Peer Support Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8776 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8776

To require a report by the Attorney General on effective strategies and best practices to reduce stigma related to mental health among law enforcement officers.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 13, 2026

Ms. Gillen (for herself and Mr. Rutherford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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A BILL

To require a report by the Attorney General on effective strategies and best practices to reduce stigma related to mental health among law enforcement officers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Officer Wellness and Peer Support Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. REPORT REQUIRED.

(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of the National Institute of Justice, shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate a report setting forth-- (1) effective strategies and best practices to-- (A) reduce stigma related to mental health among law enforcement officers; (B) encourage law enforcement officers to access mental health screening, peer-to-peer counseling, and other resources related to mental health; and (C) ensure the confidentiality of mental health services, including peer-to-peer counseling, critical incident stress debriefings, peer crisis lines, and employee assistance programs, for law enforcement officers; and (2) recommendations for action to implement such strategies and best practices. (b) Consultation.--In preparing the report under this section, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall consult with relevant stakeholders including-- (1) Federal, State, Tribal and local law enforcement agencies; and (2) professional law enforcement organizations, local law enforcement labor and representative organizations, academic organizations, mental health and suicide prevention organizations, or such other entities as the Attorney General may determine appropriate. (c) Definition.--For purposes of this Act, the term ``law enforcement officer'' means an individual involved in crime and juvenile delinquency control or reduction, or enforcement of the criminal laws (including juvenile delinquency), including, but not limited to, police, corrections, probation, parole, and judicial officers. <all>