What's happening
This bill establishes a peer-to-peer support services program for substance use disorder, including certification, training, and recovery services coordination after opioid overdose reversals.
Why it matters
Expands the role of people with lived experience. By formalizing peer-to-peer support, the bill recognizes that individuals in recovery can play a critical role in helping others, potentially reducing stigma and increasing trust in support services.
Bridges gaps after overdose reversals. The bill requires peer engagement immediately following an opioid overdose reversal—such as in hospital emergency rooms or after intervention by first responders—helping individuals connect to treatment and support when they are most vulnerable to relapse or death.
Comprehensive support beyond clinical care. Certified peers can help with practical needs like applying for benefits, attending appointments, and navigating the legal system, which can be significant barriers to recovery that are often outside the scope of traditional treatment providers.
Standardizes training and quality. By establishing a certification process and competency standards, the legislation aims to ensure that peer support is safe, effective, and consistent across the state, potentially increasing the credibility and impact of these services in the broader behavioral health system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Support for Overdose Survivors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Amended on third reading 6509a
- Ordered to third reading cal.1671
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Support for Opioid Overdose Recovery
In Assembly Committee · Alcoholism And Drug Abuse · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6509--A Cal. No. 1671
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 30, 2017
Introduced by Sens. JACOBS, O'MARA, PHILLIPS, RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse -- committee discharged and said bill committed to the Committee on Rules -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to opioid overdose reversal and peer to peer support services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 19.18-b to read as follows: § 19.18-b Substance use disorder peer to peer support services program.
1. For purposes of this subdivision "peer to peer support services" means participant-centered services that emphasize knowledge and wisdom through lived experience in which peers are encouraged to share their own personal experience and first-hand knowledge of substance abuse, addiction, and recovery to support the recovery goals of individuals who use drugs and/or alcohol.
2. The commissioner, in consultation with the department of health shall develop and administer a certification process and standards of training and competency for substance use disorder peer support services.
3. Certified peer to peer support services shall include but not be limited to:
(a) developing recovery plans;
(b) raising awareness of existing social and other support services;
(c) modeling coping skills;
(d) assisting with applying for benefits;
(e) accompanying clients to medical appointments;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11888-03-7
S. 6509--A 2
(f) providing non-clinical crisis support, especially after periods of hospitalization or incarceration;
(g) accompanying clients to court appearances and other appointments;
(h) working with participants to identify strengths;
(i) linking participants to formal recovery supports, including, but not limited to, medication assisted treatment;
(j) educating program participants about various modes of recovery, including, but not limited to, medication assisted treatment;
(k) peer engagement coordination with hospital emergency services to assist any patient that has been administered an opioid antagonist by a medical provider to establish connections to treatment, including, but not limited to, medication assisted treatment and other supports after an opioid overdose reversal or after discharge from another substance abuse related emergency department visit; and
(l) peer engagement coordination with law enforcement departments, fire departments and other first responder departments to assist any individual that has been administered an opioid antagonist by a first responder to establish connections to treatment, including, but not limited to, medication assisted treatment and other support services after an opioid overdose reversal.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to opioid overdose reversal and peer to peer support services
Purpose
To codify the Peer Engagement program and require coordination between peer engagement and police, fire, or other first responder departments in connecting individuals receiving an opioid overdose reversal with treatment services.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one:
*Adds a new section 19.18-b to the mental hygiene law for the approval of the health commissioner to develop and administer a certification process and standards of training and competency for substance use disorder peer-to-peer support services;
*Requires hospital, police, fire, and other first responder departments to connect individuals who have been administered an opioid antagonist with addiction treatment or other support services.
Section two: Sets the effective date.
Justification
In 2016 New York State launched a Peer Engagement program to help combat the heroin and opioid epidemic. This program creates Peer Engagement Specialists who have knowledge about the alcohol and substance abuse treatment system, who will coordinate with hospital emergency department personnel to help addicts who have undergone an opioid overdose reversal, or after discharge from another substance abuse related emergency visit, to connect with addiction treatment services. Once they are certified, the services of a Peer Engagement Specialist will be Medicaid eligible for patients who qualify for Medicaid. This bill codifies this program into law. Furthermore, this bill requires peer engagement coordination with hospital, police, fire, and other first responder departments to help connect individuals receiving an opioid overdose reversal with addiction treatment or other support services.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.