Bill > SB371

This bill establishes comprehensive peer support programs in Georgia by expanding the role of certified peer specialists across mental health and corrections settings. The legislation creates new definitions for certified peer specialists, including specific designations like Certified Peer Specialist-Mental Health (CPS-MH) and Certified Peer Specialist-Youth (CPS-Y), and mandates that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) certify these specialists after they complete specific training. The bill creates a grant program for hospitals and addiction recovery support centers to implement peer support services for individuals with substance use disorders, with requirements for annual reporting and independent evaluation of program effectiveness. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Corrections and Department of Community Supervision to establish forensic peer mentor programs in every state, county, and municipal jail, with these programs to be led by certified peer specialists who can provide support, advocacy, and connection to resources for incarcerated individuals. Peer specialists will work to promote recovery, personal responsibility, and community reintegration by drawing on their own lived experiences with mental health or substance use challenges. The legislation aims to improve support for vulnerable populations by leveraging peer-led interventions in healthcare and correctional settings.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71979