PEER Support Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 2741 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2741 To address the behavioral health workforce shortages through support for peer support specialists, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 8, 2025 Ms. Salinas (for herself, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Bonamici, and Mr. Doggett) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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 Representatives 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 Support Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST. (a) In General.--In this Act, the term ``peer support specialist'' means an individual-- (1)(A) who has lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition or substance use disorder and who specializes in supporting individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders; or (B) who has lived experience as a parent or caregiver of an individual with a mental health condition 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