Directs the office of mental health to establish programs for the training and development of persons capable of providing coaching and support to individuals under treatment plans developed by licensed mental health practitioners, including but not limited to a process of issuing, either directly or through contract, credentials for qualified mental health associates.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5273
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 20, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to qualified mental
health associates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision (i) to read as follows:
3 (i) The office either directly or through contract, shall develop
4 training, approved educational courses, and a process for issuing
5 credentials to persons meeting the minimum qualifications for a quali-
6 fied mental health associate.
7 (1) A credentialed qualified mental health associate must meet the
8 following minimum qualifications:
9 (i) A high school diploma;
10 (ii)(A) An Associate or Bachelor's degree in a behavioral sciences
11 field; or
12 (B) A combination of at least three years relevant work, education,
13 training or experience; and
14 (iii) Demonstrate the competency necessary to:
15 (A) promote recovery and communicate effectively to service recipients
16 and professionals;
17 (B) understand mental health assessment, treatment and service termi-
18 nology;
19 (C) provide psychosocial skills development;
20 (D) implement interventions included in an individual treatment plan
21 of care;
22 (E) provide behavior management and case management duties; and
23 (F) provide support services related to crisis stabilization, medica-
24 tion management and health monitoring.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08419-01-5
S. 5273 2
1 (2) The office shall establish procedures for the establishment of
2 appropriate fees, and to issue penalties, or suspend, revoke, or annul
3 such credentials for cause any misconduct, other prohibited acts, or for
4 the unauthorized use of the title qualified mental health associate. The
5 commissioner shall also develop procedures for remedial action which may
6 be used at the discretion of the commissioner.
7 (3) The commissioner shall establish a credentialing board which shall
8 provide advice concerning the credentialing process under this subdivi-
9 sion. The commissioner appointments shall be representative of the
10 diverse mental health field, including but not limited to:
11 (i) consumers of mental health services or persons with lived experi-
12 ence;
13 (ii) individuals who represent underserved populations, including
14 urban and rural areas of the state; and
15 (iii) other credentialed and licensed mental health professionals.
16 (4) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for the
17 purpose of effectuating the provisions under this subdivision.
18 (5) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to allow a qualified
19 mental health associate to act in a manner that would require a license,
20 registration, or certification pursuant to title eight of the education
21 law.
22 § 2. Section 7.03 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new
23 subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
24 2-a. "Qualified mental health associate" or "QMHA" means an official
25 designation identifying an individual as one who holds a registered and
26 valid credential issued by the office pursuant to section 7.07 of this
27 article which documents an individual's minimum qualifications to
28 provide services and supports to individuals with a mental illness.
29 Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted to allow a qualified
30 mental health associate to act in a manner that would require a license,
31 registration, or certification pursuant to title eight of the education
32 law.
33 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
