Peer-Support Specialist Act of 2017

Summary: Peer-Support Specialist Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to&nbsp;award grants to eligible entities&nbsp;to develop and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional training and education programs, including through tuition support.&nbsp; Eligible entities are community colleges, training or credentialing programs, and other entities deemed appropriate by HHS. HHS must report on and publish best practices and professional standards in states for: (1) establishing and operating health care programs using peer-support specialists, and (2) training and certifying peer-support specialists.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Peer-Support Specialist Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR PEER-SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROGRAMS, 
              TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to 
the Congress and make publicly available a report on best practices and 
professional standards in States for--
            (1) establishing and operating health care programs using 
        peer-support specialists; and
            (2) training and certifying peer-support specialists.
    (b) Peer-Support Specialist Defined.--In this subsection, the term 
``peer-support specialist'' means an individual who--
            (1)(A) uses his or her lived experience of recovery from 
        mental illness or a substance use disorder, plus skills learned 
        in formal training, to facilitate support groups, and to work 
        on a one-on-one basis, with individuals with a serious mental 
        illness or a substance use disorder;
            (B) has benefitted or is benefitting from mental health or 
        substance use treatment services or supports;
            (C) provides non-medical services; and
            (D) performs services only within his or her area of 
        training, expertise, competence, or scope of practice;
            (2)(A) uses his or her lived experience as the parent or 
        caregiver of an individual with mental illness or a substance 
        use disorder, plus skills learned in formal training, to 
        facilitate support groups, and to work on a one-on-one basis, 
        with individuals with a serious mental illness or a substance 
        use disorder;
            (B) provides non-medical services; and
            (C) performs services only within his or her area of 
        training, expertise, competence, or scope of practice; or
            (3) otherwise meets criteria specified by the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services for defining a peer-support 
        specialist.
    (c) Contents.--The report under this subsection shall include 
information on best practices and standards with regard to the 
following:
            (1) Hours of formal work or volunteer experience related to 
        mental health and substance use issues.
            (2) Types of peer support specialists used by different 
        health care programs.
            (3) Types of peer specialist exams required.
            (4) Code of ethics.
            (5) Additional training required prior to certification, 
        including in areas such as--
                    (A) ethics;
                    (B) scope of practice;
                    (C) crisis intervention;
                    (D) State confidentiality laws;
                    (E) Federal privacy protections, including under 
                the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
                of 1996; and
                    (F) other areas as determined by the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services.
            (6) Requirements to explain what, where, when, and how to 
        accurately complete all required documentation activities.
            (7) Required or recommended skill sets, such as knowledge 
        of--
                    (A) risk indicators, including individual 
                stressors, triggers, and indicators of escalating 
                symptoms;
                    (B) basic de-escalation techniques;
                    (C) basic suicide prevention concepts and 
                techniques;
                    (D) identifying and responding to trauma;
                    (E) stages of change or recovery;
                    (F) the typical process that should be followed to 
                access or participate in community mental health and 
                related services;
                    (G) effectively working in care teams and 
                facilitating the coordination of services; and
                    (H) supporting individuals in meeting the 
                consumer's recovery goals.
            (8) Requirements for continuing education.

SEC. 3. PEER PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--For the purposes described in subsection (b), the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall award grants to develop 
and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional training and education 
programs, including through tuition support.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of grants under this section are--
            (1) to increase the number of behavioral health 
        paraprofessionals, including trained peers, recovery coaches, 
        mental health and addiction specialists, prevention 
        specialists, and pre-masters-level addiction counselors; and
            (2) to help communities develop the infrastructure to train 
        and certify peers as behavioral health paraprofessionals, 
        including necessary internship hours for credentialing.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, an entity shall be a community college, training or 
credentialing program, or other entity the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services deems appropriate.
    (d) Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek to 
achieve an appropriate national balance in the geographic distribution 
of such awards.
    (e) Special Consideration.--In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services may give special 
consideration to proposed and existing programs targeting peer 
professionals serving youth ages 16 to 25.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 through 2022.