PEER Support Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1329
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-19T12:03:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery Support Act (PEER Support Act) aims to tackle shortages in the behavioral health workforce by promoting 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 standardize their role, enhance training and integration, and reduce barriers to entry, ultimately improving access to recovery services.
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 core skills for behavioral health support.
- Recognition of the Profession (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 create 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 professional and personal experience in mental health or substance use 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, and integration of peer support specialists.
- Promoting ongoing professional development, retention, and career pathways for these specialists.
- Absorbing and continuing the functions of any existing SAMHSA recovery office.
- 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 specialists improve recovery outcomes.
- A survey of state laws, Medicaid requirements, and block grant conditions related to background checks, including disqualifying offenses, exemptions, and recent changes.
- Recommendations to states for streamlining checks to lower barriers (e.g., for those with past convictions).
- The report will be posted online and shared with state certification agencies, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and relevant state health programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a formal federal definition for peer support specialists, which did not previously exist in statute, providing a consistent framework across states.
- Adds a new section (501D) to the Public Health Service Act, establishing the Office of Recovery in SAMHSA and integrating any prior informal recovery functions into a dedicated office with expanded duties.
- Mandates the first federal recognition of peer support specialists in the SOC system, elevating their status from informal roles to a classified occupation.
- Requires a novel interagency report on background checks, which could influence state laws and federal funding conditions under Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) and mental health block grants (part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act), potentially easing restrictions not explicitly addressed before.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: SAMHSA will gain a dedicated office to coordinate recovery efforts, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving efficiency in workforce development. States may need to align certification processes with federal guidelines, affecting agencies handling Medicaid and block grants. OMB's SOC update could influence labor statistics and federal job data collection.
- Citizens: Individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders, and their families, could benefit from expanded access to empathetic, peer-led support services, leading to better recovery outcomes and reduced stigma. Aspiring peer specialists, especially those with past justice involvement, may face fewer barriers to certification and employment, fostering a more diverse workforce.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health policy and workforce issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Peer Support Specialists: Gain professional recognition, training support, and potential career advancement, making it easier to enter and sustain the field.
- Individuals and Families with Behavioral Health Needs: Benefit from increased availability of recovery services tailored to lived experiences.
- State and Local Governments: Responsible for certification, background checks, and implementing best practices; may receive federal technical assistance to expand services.
- Healthcare Providers and Organizations: Including SAMHSA, CMS, and mental health programs, which will integrate peer roles more formally into service delivery.
- Tribal Organizations and Territories: Explicitly included in technical assistance efforts, addressing underserved populations.
- Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: Indirectly affected through recommendations to reduce background check barriers, promoting rehabilitation and employment in recovery roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable standards for peer certification and services, potentially leading to litigation if states resist federal alignment (e.g., under federalism principles). The background check report could prompt amendments to state laws, balancing public safety with rehabilitation rights, without overriding state authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's role in public health under the Spending Clause (by tying to federal grants) and general welfare promotion; no apparent conflicts with free speech, due process, or equal protection, though it supports anti-discrimination in employment for recovery roles.
- Political: Signals bipartisan support for recovery-oriented mental health policy (introduced by senators from both parties), potentially influencing future funding for SAMHSA and workforce initiatives. It emphasizes lived experience in leadership (e.g., office director), promoting inclusivity but raising questions about qualifications in federal appointments. Overall, it advances decriminalization-adjacent reforms by addressing barriers for those with criminal histories in helping professions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery Support Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (8 pages)