S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7280
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 19, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
peer support services program for transgender and non-binary individ-
uals
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
7.51 to read as follows:
§ 7.51 TRANSGENDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH REGIONAL OR COUNTY-
BASED PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY
INDIVIDUALS. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PEER COUNSELING FOR MENTAL ILLNESS
INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT
SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL FOSTER PROGRAMS FOR THE TRAINING AND DEVEL-
OPMENT 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 RECOGNIZED OR CERTIFIED
PEER COUNSELORS.
(C) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR RECOGNIZED
OR CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELORS IN ALL PHASES OF DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO
TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EVALUATED AND CERTIFIED
OR RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE ON FACTORS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
COMPLETION OF APPROVED COURSES OF STUDY OR EQUIVALENT ON-THE-JOB EXPERI-
ENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUN-
SELING OR OTHER CREDENTIALS ESTABLISHED OR RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE.
(D) 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 immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08035-01-3