S 6085: Establishes a regional or county-based peer support services program for transgender and non-binary individuals that provides support services including but not limited to, peer counseling for mental illness including alcohol and substance abuse counseling, family support services, domestic violence, mental health and physical health.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6085 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE March 5, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. PARKER, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a peer support services program for transgender and non-binary individ- uals The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 2 7.51 to read as follows: 3 § 7.51 Transgender peer support program. 4 (a) The commissioner shall develop and establish regional or county- 5 based peer support services programs for transgender and non-binary 6 individuals. Services provided by the peer support program shall 7 include, but not be limited to, peer counseling for mental illness 8 including alcohol and substance abuse counseling, family support 9 services, domestic violence, mental health and physical health. 10 (b) The commissioner shall foster programs for the training and devel- 11 opment of persons capable of providing the services set forth in this 12 section, including, but not limited to, a process of issuing, either 13 directly or through contract, credentials for recognized or certified 14 peer counselors. 15 (c) The office shall establish minimum qualifications for recognized 16 or certified peer counselors in all phases of delivery of services to 17 transgender and non-binary individuals who are evaluated and certified 18 or recognized by the office on factors including, but not limited to, 19 completion of approved courses of study or equivalent on-the-job experi- 20 ence in mental health counseling, alcoholism and substance abuse coun- 21 seling or other credentials established or recognized by the office. 22 (d) The office shall establish procedures for issuing, directly or 23 through contract, credentials to certified peer counselors who meet 24 minimum qualifications, and shall further establish procedures to 25 suspend, revoke or annul such credentials for good cause. 26 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10627-01-5