S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6037
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 26, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER, RAGA, K. BROWN -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Veterans' 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 OR A
VETERAN RECOGNIZED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION; AND THE
TERM "CERTIFIED OR RECOGNIZED VETERAN PEER COUNSELOR" SHALL MEAN AN
INDIVIDUAL 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 AS DOCUMENTED BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S 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
RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE.
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF ADDICTION SERVICES
AND SUPPORTS, AND THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'
SERVICES SHALL DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH REGIONAL OR COUNTY BASED PEER
SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN VETERANS. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
RECOGNIZED OR CERTIFIED WOMAN VETERAN PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM
SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PEER COUNSELING TECHNIQUES FOR
MENTAL ILLNESS INCLUDING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ALCOHOL AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD CARE, PHYSICAL HEALTH AND LEGAL ISSUES.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07558-01-5
A. 6037 2
(C) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES 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 RECOGNIZED
OR CERTIFIED VETERAN PEER COUNSELORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:
1. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR RECOGNIZED OR
CERTIFIED VETERAN PEER COUNSELORS IN ALL PHASES OF DELIVERY OF SERVICES
TO VETERANS WHO ARE EVALUATED AND CERTIFIED OR RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE
ON FACTORS INCLUDING, 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 OR OTHER
CREDENTIALS ESTABLISHED OR RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE; 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 one year 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.