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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
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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:
1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
2 7.42 to read as follows:
3 § 7.42 PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.
4 (A) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION THE TERM "PEER SUPPORT SERVICES"
5 SHALL MEAN ANY SERVICE DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE USED IN THE TREATMENT
6 AND RECOVERY OF MENTAL ILLNESS, ALCOHOL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND/OR
7 CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE THAT IS DELIVERED BY A CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELOR OR A
8 VETERAN RECOGNIZED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION; AND THE
9 TERM "CERTIFIED OR RECOGNIZED VETERAN PEER COUNSELOR" SHALL MEAN AN
10 INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE OF THE
11 UNITED STATES AND HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE OTHERWISE THAN BY
12 DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE AS DOCUMENTED BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S DISCHARGE
13 PAPERS OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED
14 FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS TRAINING, CREDENTIALS OR EXPERIENCE
15 RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE.
16 (B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
17 COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF ADDICTION SERVICES
18 AND SUPPORTS, AND THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'
19 SERVICES SHALL DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH REGIONAL OR COUNTY BASED PEER
20 SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN VETERANS. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
21 RECOGNIZED OR CERTIFIED WOMAN VETERAN PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM
22 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PEER COUNSELING TECHNIQUES FOR
23 MENTAL ILLNESS INCLUDING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ALCOHOL AND
24 SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
25 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
1 (C) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
2 OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF
3 THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES SHALL FOSTER PROGRAMS FOR THE
4 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES
5 SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PROCESS OF
6 ISSUING, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH CONTRACT, CREDENTIALS FOR RECOGNIZED
7 OR CERTIFIED VETERAN PEER COUNSELORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:
8 1. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR RECOGNIZED OR
9 CERTIFIED VETERAN PEER COUNSELORS IN ALL PHASES OF DELIVERY OF SERVICES
10 TO VETERANS WHO ARE EVALUATED AND CERTIFIED OR RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE
11 ON FACTORS INCLUDING, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COMPLETION OF APPROVED
12 COURSES OF STUDY OR EQUIVALENT ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH
13 COUNSELING AND/OR ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING OR OTHER
14 CREDENTIALS ESTABLISHED OR RECOGNIZED BY THE OFFICE; AND
15 2. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING, DIRECTLY OR
16 THROUGH CONTRACT, CREDENTIALS TO CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELORS WHO MEET
17 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, AND SHALL FURTHER ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO
18 SUSPEND, REVOKE, OR ANNUL SUCH CREDENTIALS FOR GOOD CAUSE.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
20 law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
21 rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
22 effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
23 date.