PEER Support Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2741
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:08:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The PEER Support Act aims to tackle shortages in the behavioral health workforce by formally recognizing and supporting peer support specialists—individuals who use their personal recovery experiences to help others with mental health conditions or substance use disorders. It seeks to professionalize this role, improve access to recovery services, and reduce barriers to entry for qualified individuals.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Peer Support Specialist (Section 2): Defines a peer support specialist as someone with lived experience in recovering from a mental health condition or substance use disorder (or as a parent/caregiver of someone with such issues) who is certified by their state or the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Their services must align with national guidelines from organizations like the National Association of Peer Supporters and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), focusing on competencies like empathy, support, and navigation of health systems.
- Recognition in Occupational Classification (Section 3): Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to update the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system—a federal tool for categorizing jobs—by January 1, 2026, to include a specific category for peer support specialists.
- Establishment of the Office of Recovery (Section 4): Amends the Public Health Service Act to create an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA. This office will be led by a Director with both professional experience and personal lived experience in recovery. Key responsibilities include:
- Identifying emerging recovery issues.
- Providing technical assistance, data analysis, and best practices to states, localities, territories, tribes, and tribal organizations to expand recovery services.
- Supporting training, certification, supervision, integration, and professional development for peer support specialists.
- Developing career pathways for these specialists.
- Absorbing existing functions, staff, and resources from SAMHSA's prior Office of Recovery.
- Research on Criminal Background Checks (Section 5): Directs the HHS Secretary, in coordination with the Attorney General, to produce a report within one year on background check processes for aspiring peer support specialists. The report must cover:
- Evidence on how peer support improves mental health and recovery outcomes.
- A survey of state laws, Medicaid requirements (under the Social Security Act), and block grant conditions (under the Public Health Service Act) related to criminal background checks, including barriers, exemptions, and recent changes.
- Recommendations to states for streamlining checks to lower entry barriers while ensuring safety.
The report will be posted online by SAMHSA and shared with state certification agencies, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and relevant state health offices.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amendments to the Public Health Service Act: Adds a new section (501D) to formally establish and expand the Office of Recovery in SAMHSA, building on but enhancing its prior informal role by specifying duties related to peer support professionalization.
- Occupational Recognition: Introduces federal acknowledgment of peer support specialists in the SOC system, which could enable better tracking, funding, and integration into workforce data—previously, this role lacked a standardized federal category.
- New Reporting Requirement: Creates a mandatory HHS-led study on background checks, which does not directly alter laws but provides a framework for potential state-level reforms, differing from current fragmented state approaches under Medicaid and block grants.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: SAMHSA will gain a dedicated office with expanded resources for recovery support, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving coordination. OMB faces a one-time classification update. States and CMS may see indirect effects through recommended changes to certification and Medicaid provider rules, possibly leading to more uniform national standards.
- On Citizens: Individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders could benefit from increased access to empathetic, peer-led services, fostering recovery and reducing stigma. Families navigating these systems may receive better support. Aspiring peer specialists, especially those with past criminal records related to their own recovery, might face fewer barriers to certification, expanding the workforce.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health policy and workforce development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Peer Support Specialists and Individuals with Lived Experience: Gain official recognition, training support, career advancement, and reduced barriers to entry.
- People with Mental Health Conditions or Substance Use Disorders: Benefit from expanded, accessible recovery services.
- Families and Caregivers: Receive targeted support in navigating health systems.
- Government Entities: SAMHSA, HHS, OMB, CMS, state health and certification agencies, and tribal organizations will handle new offices, reports, and implementations.
- Behavioral Health Providers and Organizations: Including nonprofits like the National Association of Peer Supporters, which could see increased integration of peer roles in treatment programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Standardizes the definition of peer support specialists across federal contexts, potentially easing reimbursement under Medicaid (a joint federal-state program providing health coverage to low-income individuals) and block grants for substance abuse prevention. The background check report could influence state laws without mandating changes, promoting evidence-based reforms while balancing public safety.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill operates within Congress's authority over public health and interstate commerce, without infringing on individual rights or state sovereignty.
- Political Implications: Highlights a bipartisan push (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) for recovery-oriented care, but may spark debate over background check leniency in roles involving vulnerable populations, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. It advances workforce equity by valuing lived experience, aligning with broader mental health reform efforts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (25)
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery Support Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (8 pages)