Confidentiality of peer support communications

In this section: The term “law enforcement agency” means a Federal agency that employs a law enforcement officer. The term “law enforcement officer” has the meaning given the term “Federal law enforcement officer” in section 115 of title 18. The term “peer support communication” includes— with respect to a communication made by a peer support participant in the course of a peer support counseling session, another communication, regarding the first communication, that is made between a peer support specialist and— The term “peer support counseling program” means a program provided by a law enforcement agency that provides counseling services from a peer support specialist to a law enforcement officer of the agency. The term “peer support counseling session” means any counseling formally provided through a peer support counseling program between a peer support specialist and 1 or more law enforcement officers. The term “peer support participant” means a law enforcement officer who receives counseling services from a peer support specialist. The term “peer support specialist” means a law enforcement officer who— has received training in— Except as provided in subsection (c), a peer support specialist or a peer support participant may not disclose the contents of a peer support communication to an individual who was not a party to the peer support communication. Subsection (b) shall not apply to a peer support communication if— the peer support communication contains— an explicit threat of suicide by an individual in which the individual— shares— information— relating to the abuse or neglect of— the disclosure is permitted by each peer support participant who was a party to, as applicable— Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to prohibit the disclosure of— Before the initial peer support counseling session of a peer support participant, a peer support specialist shall inform the peer support participant in writing of the confidentiality requirement under subsection (b) and the exceptions to the requirement under subsection (c).