S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4423
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 4, 2021
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Introduced by Sens. PARKER, GALLIVAN, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Veterans, Homeland Security and Military 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 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 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 DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS'
AFFAIRS 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09173-01-1
S. 4423 2
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD CARE, PHYSICAL HEALTH AND LEGAL ISSUES.
(C) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS 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 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.
