I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2046 
To provide for a report on best practices for peer-support specialist programs, 
to authorize grants for behavioral health paraprofessional training and 
education, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 6, 2017 
Mr. BEN RAY LUJA´N of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. CLARKE 
of New York, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, and Mr. LOEBSACK) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To provide for a report on best practices for peer-support 
specialist programs, to authorize grants for behavioral 
health paraprofessional training and education, 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 ‘‘Peer-Support Spe-
cialist Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR PEER-SUPPORT 
SPECIALIST PROGRAMS, TRAINING, AND CER-
TIFICATION. 
(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 profes-
sional standards in States for— 
(1) establishing and operating health care pro-
grams using peer-support specialists; and 
(2) training and certifying peer-support special-
ists. 
(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 recov-
ery 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 sup-
ports; 
(C) provides non-medical services; and 
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(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 ill-
ness 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 defin-
ing 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 experi-
ence 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. 
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(4) Code of ethics. 
(5) Additional training required prior to certifi-
cation, 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 Ac-
countability Act of 1996; and 
(F) other areas as determined by the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services. 
(6) Requirements to explain what, where, when, 
and how to accurately complete all required docu-
mentation 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; 
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(F) the typical process that should be fol-
lowed 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 Serv-
ices 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, pre-
vention specialists, and pre-masters-level addiction 
counselors; and 
(2) to help communities develop the infrastruc-
ture to train and certify peers as behavioral health 
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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 ap-
propriate. 
(d) 
GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—In 
awarding 
grants under this section, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall seek to achieve an appropriate na-
tional 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. 
Æ 
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