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Creates a federal framework to recognize, standardize, and support peer support specialists — people with lived experience in recovery who help others with mental health or substance use conditions. It defines who qualifies, requires use of national peer-practice and SAMHSA competency standards, directs OMB to add a job category to the Standard Occupational Classification by Jan 1, 2026, establishes a new Office of Recovery inside SAMHSA to lead recovery supports, and orders an HHS–Attorney General report within one year that reviews criminal background check barriers to certification and offers recommendations.
Defines “peer support specialist” as an individual who has lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition or substance use disorder and who specializes in supporting individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders.
Alternative definition branch: a peer support specialist may be an individual who has lived experience as a parent or caregiver of a person with a mental health condition or substance use disorder and who specializes in supporting families navigating mental health or substance use service systems.
Requires that a peer support specialist be certified as qualified to furnish peer support services, as described in subsection (b), under a certification process determined by the State where the individual furnishes services or under a process the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines appropriate.
Specifies that peer support services must be consistent with the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters issued by the National Association of Peer Supporters (or a successor publication) and must be inclusive of the Core Competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Services from SAMHSA.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must revise the Standard Occupational Classification system to include an occupational category for peer support specialists.
Who is affected and how:
Peer support specialists (existing and prospective): The law defines who qualifies, requires adherence to national practice guidelines and SAMHSA competencies, and pushes for official recognition via an SOC code. This should improve professional visibility, career tracking, and eligibility for workforce planning. Certification pathways remain state-led, but HHS may accept alternate processes.
People receiving services (people with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, families): Better definition, standards, and a dedicated Office of Recovery aim to improve quality, consistency, and access to peer‑led supports, potentially expanding service availability.
Federal agencies (SAMHSA, HHS, OMB, DOJ): SAMHSA must host the new Office of Recovery and absorb prior staff/assets; OMB must update the SOC by a fixed date; HHS and the Attorney General must produce a cross‑agency report. These tasks impose planning, reporting, and administrative workload on those agencies.
States and state certification bodies: The bill surveys and reviews State certification and background‑check rules and may spur voluntary policy changes to reduce barriers. It does not directly change State authority but could create federal recommendations and model practices.
Employers, health systems, and payers: Better occupational classification and federal practice standards can support workforce planning, recruitment, billing/credentialing decisions, and integration of peer specialists into care teams. However, there is no direct mandate to change reimbursement or pay rates.
Potential benefits: clearer professional standards, improved workforce data, reduced certification barriers for qualified people with prior criminal records, and strengthened federal support for recovery services.
Potential costs/risks: administrative burden for agencies to implement new Office functions and reporting; without dedicated appropriations, scaling services or funding new positions may be limited; States may vary in their willingness or ability to change certification rules.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced April 8, 2025 by Andrea Salinas · Last progress April 8, 2025
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PEER Support Act
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House