I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7212 
To address the behavioral health workforce shortages through support for 
peer support specialists, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2024 
Ms. SALINAS (for herself, Mr. MANN, and Mr. CA´RDENAS) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Work-
force, 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 
A BILL 
To address the behavioral health workforce shortages through 
support for peer support specialists, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Providing Empathetic 
and Effective Recovery Support Act’’ or the ‘‘PEER Sup-
port Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In this Act, the term ‘‘peer sup-
port specialist’’ means an individual— 
(1)(A) who has lived experience of recovery 
from a mental health condition or substance use dis-
order and who specializes in supporting individuals 
with mental health conditions or substance use dis-
orders; or 
(B) who has lived experience as a parent or 
caregiver of an individual with a mental health con-
dition or substance use disorder and who specializes 
in supporting families navigating mental health or 
substance use service systems; and 
(2) who is certified as qualified to furnish peer 
support services, as described in subsection (b), 
under a process that is determined by the State in 
which such individual furnishes such services or de-
termined appropriate by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. 
(b) PEER SUPPORT SERVICES.—The services de-
scribed in this subsection shall be consistent with the Na-
tional Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters issued by 
the National Association of Peer Supporters (or a suc-
cessor publication) and inclusive of the Core Competencies 
for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Services of the 
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administra-
tion. 
SEC. 3. RECOGNIZING THE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 
PROFESSION. 
Not later than January 1, 2025, the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget shall revise the Stand-
ard Occupational Classification system to include an occu-
pational category for peer support specialists. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF RECOVERY. 
Part A of title V of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 501C (42 U.S.C. 290aa–0b) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 501D. OFFICE OF RECOVERY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established, in the Sub-
stance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 
an Office of Recovery (referred to in this section as the 
‘Office’). 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—The Office shall be headed by a Di-
rector who has demonstrated experience in, and lived expe-
rience with, mental health or substance use disorder recov-
ery. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Through the Office of Re-
covery, the responsibilities of the Director shall include— 
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