S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2945
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, BARRETT, CRESPO, DenDEKKER, OTIS, MALLIO-
TAKIS, MORINELLO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veter-
ans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
peer support program for veterans
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
7.42 to read as follows:
§ 7.42 PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.
(A) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION THE TERM "PEER SUPPORT SERVICES"
SHALL MEAN ANY SERVICE DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE USED IN THE TREATMENT
AND RECOVERY OF MENTAL ILLNESS, ALCOHOL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND/OR
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE THAT IS DELIVERED BY A CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELOR; AND
THE TERM "CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELOR" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL WITH
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A MENTAL HEALTH RECIPIENT AND/OR AN INDIVIDUAL IN
RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND/OR CHEMICAL DEPEND-
ENCE, WHO HAS SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE OF THE
UNITED STATES AND HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE OTHERWISE THAN BY
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE AND AS DOCUMENTED BY HIS OR HER DISCHARGE PAPERS
OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES
OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS TRAINING, CREDENTIALS OR EXPERIENCE RECOG-
NIZED BY THE OFFICE.
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF ALCOHOLISM AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, AND THE STATE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF
VETERANS' AFFAIRS SHALL DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH A MINIMUM OF TWO REGIONAL
PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS. ONE REGIONAL PEER SUPPORT
SERVICES PROGRAM SHALL BE LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND ONE
REGIONAL PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM SHALL BE LOCATED IN UPSTATE NEW
YORK OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR LONG ISLAND. SERVICES PROVIDED
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07139-01-9
A. 2945 2
BY THE PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, PEER COUNSELING FOR MENTAL ILLNESS INCLUDING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER, ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, INFORMATION ON ACCESS
TO SERVICES, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND WHERE APPLICABLE, SPECIALIZED
SERVICES FOR FEMALE VETERANS.
(C) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AND THE STATE DIRECTOR
OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS SHALL FOSTER PROGRAMS FOR THE
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES
SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PROCESS OF
ISSUING, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH CONTRACT, CREDENTIALS FOR CERTIFIED
PEER COUNSELORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:
1. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFIED
PEER COUNSELORS IN ALL PHASES OF DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO VETERANS WHO
ARE SUFFERING FROM ANY OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING: MENTAL
ILLNESS, ALCOHOL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND/OR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE THAT
SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COMPLETION OF APPROVED COURSES OF
STUDY OR EQUIVALENT ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
AND/OR ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING; AND
2. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING, DIRECTLY OR
THROUGH CONTRACT, CREDENTIALS TO CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELORS WHO MEET
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, AND SHALL FURTHER ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO
SUSPEND, REVOKE, OR ANNUL SUCH CREDENTIALS FOR GOOD CAUSE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such date.