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A09431 Summary:

BILL NOA09431
 
SAME ASSAME AS S04423
 
SPONSORHunter
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §7.42, Ment Hyg L
 
Establishes a peer support program for veterans.
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A09431 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          9431
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      March 7, 2022
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- 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 his or her discharge  papers  or
    13  who has been furloughed to the reserve components of the armed forces of
    14  the United States who has training, credentials or experience recognized
    15  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  director  of  the  division  of  veterans'
    19  affairs  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.
    26    (c)  The  commissioner,  in  conjunction  with the commissioner of the
    27  office of addiction services and supports and the state director of  the
    28  division of veterans' affairs shall foster programs for the training and
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09173-01-1

        A. 9431                             2
 
     1  development  of  persons  capable of providing the services set forth in
     2  this section, including, but not  limited  to,  a  process  of  issuing,
     3  either  directly  or  through  contract,  credentials  for recognized or
     4  certified veteran peer counselors in accordance with the following:
     5    1. The office shall establish minimum qualifications for recognized or
     6  certified  veteran peer counselors in all phases of delivery of services
     7  to veterans who are evaluated and certified or recognized by the  office
     8  on  factors  including,  but  not  be limited to, completion of approved
     9  courses of study or equivalent on-the-job experience  in  mental  health
    10  counseling  and/or  alcoholism  and  substance abuse counseling or other
    11  credentials established or recognized by the office; and
    12    2. The office shall establish  procedures  for  issuing,  directly  or
    13  through  contract,  credentials  to  certified  peer counselors who meet
    14  minimum  qualifications,  and  shall  further  establish  procedures  to
    15  suspend, revoke, or annul such credentials for good cause.
    16    §  2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
    17  law.  Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
    18  rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act  on  its
    19  effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
    20  date.
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