AB-96 • 2026

Mental health services: peer support specialist certification.

Education Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Jackson
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 3). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not mention anything about allowing certified peer support specialists to provide services under the Medi-Cal program without needing additional certifications. This claim was removed as it is unsupported by the provided text.

Mental Health Services: Peer Support Specialist Certification

This law removes the requirement of having a high school diploma or equivalent degree to become a certified peer support specialist and includes these specialists under the definition of community health workers.

What This Bill Does

Removes the need for a high school diploma or equivalent degree to be eligible for certification as a peer support specialist.
Includes peer support specialists in the definition of community health workers, which means they meet all education and training requirements set by the state department.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to become peer support specialists
The State Department of Health Care Services

Terms To Know

Peer Support Specialist: A person with lived experience in mental health recovery who helps others facing similar challenges.
Medi-Cal Program: A state-run healthcare program that provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the removal of the high school diploma requirement will affect certification processes.
It is unclear if this change will increase or decrease the number of people who can become peer support specialists.

Bill History

2026-06-04 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 3). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-01-26 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3828.)
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 22).
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.)
2026-01-13 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-12 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-02-11 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-01-08 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 7.
2025-01-07 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 96, as amended, Jackson.
Community health workers.
Mental health services: peer support specialist certification.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program and provides for various services, including behavioral and mental health services that are rendered by Medi-Cal enrolled providers.
Existing law authorizes a county, or an agency representing the county, to develop a peer support specialist certification program, subject to department approval. Existing law imposes specified requirements on applicants for certification as a peer support specialist,
including that the applicant be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
This bill would remove the requirement of possessing a high school diploma or equivalent degree from the requirements necessary for an applicant to receive certification.
Existing law required the Department of Health Care Access and Information, on or before July 1, 2023, to develop and approve statewide requirements for community health worker certificate programs. Existing law requires the department, as part of developing those requirements, to, among other things, determine the necessary curriculum to meet certificate program objectives. Existing law defines “community health worker” for these purposes to mean a liaison, link, or intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the access and cultural competence of service delivery. Existing law specifies that “community health worker” include Promotores, Promotores de Salud, Community Health Representatives, navigators, and
other nonlicensed health workers with the qualifications developed by the department.
This bill would also specify for these purposes that a “community health worker” includes a peer support
specialist and would deem a certified peer support specialist to have satisfied all education and training requirements developed by the department for certification as a community health worker.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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