,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bfeg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ab1 #bjah ,ms4 ,collins 7for herself and ,mrs4 ,shaheen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act to establish a grant program to create peer support recovery networks1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,opioid ,peer ,support ,networks ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,opioid peer support networks ,part ,d of title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;dd et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #eej4 ,opioid peer support networks 7a7 ,definition ,in this section1 the term peer support network means a group of two or more independent nonprofit organizations-- 7#a7 that mobilizes resources within and outside of the network to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from substance use disorders2 and 7#b7 for which at least one organization is wholly or principally governed by peers 7individuals in recovery for substance use disorders who reflect the community served74 7b7 ,grants authorized ,the ,secretary shall award grants for up to #c years to eligible recovery community organizations to enable such organizations to develop1 expand1 and enhance recovery services4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section an entity shall-- 7#a7 be a recovery community organization2 and 7#b7 submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,use of funds ,amounts awarded under grants under subsection 7b7-- 7#a7 shall be used to develop1 expand1 and enhance non-clinical community and statewide recovery support services2 and 7#b7 may be used to-- 7,a7 build connections between peer support networks1 between recovery community organizations1 and with other recovery support services1 including-- 7i7 behavioral health providers2 7ii7 primary care providers and physicians2 7iii7 educational and vocational schools2 7iv7 employers2 7v7 housing services2 7vi7 child welfare agencies2 7vii7 the criminal justice system2 and 7viii7 other recovery support services that facilitate recovery from substance use disorders2 and 7,b7 conduct outreach on issues relating to substance use disorders and recovery1 including-- 7i7 identifying the signs of addiction2 7ii7 identifying the resources available to individuals struggling with addiction and to families with a family member struggling with1 or being treated for1 addiction1 including programs that mentor and provide support services to children2 7iii7 identifying the resources available to help support individuals in recovery2 7iv7 identifying related medical outcomes of substance use disorders1 the potential of acquiring an infectious disease from intravenous drug use1 and neonatal abstinence syndrome among infants exposed to opioids during pregnancy2 7v7 identifying resources available to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders2 and 7vi7 educating and reinforcing the best practices in the delivery of recovery support services4 7e7 ,geographic distribution ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure that not less than #ej percent of funds are awarded to eligible entities that are not located in metropolitan statistical areas 7as defined by the ,office of ,management and ,budget74 ,the ,secretary shall take into account the unique needs of rural communities1 including communities with a per capita overdose mortality rate that is above the national average and communities with a shortage of prevention and treatment services4 7f7 ,technical ,assistance ,center 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary1 jointly with the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,abuse1 through a grant shall establish a ,national ,peer ,run ,training and ,technical ,assistance ,center for ,addiction ,recovery ,support 7referred to in this subsection as the ,center74 7#b7 ,functions ,the ,center established under paragraph 7#a7 shall provide support to the peer support networks established under this section including-- 7,a7 training2 7,b7 technical assistance2 7,c7 evaluations2 7,d7 research2 7,e7 translation services2 7,f7 capacity building products2 and 7,g7 assistance in navigating the grant application and renewal process under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,best practices ,the ,center established under paragraph 7#a7 shall annually issue best practices for use by peer support networks4 7g7 ,data reporting ,grant recipients under subsection 7b7 shall annually submit data to the ,secretary including-- 7#a7 a description of the programs and activities funded under the grant2 7#b7 a description of the outcomes of individuals who received services through the programs funded under the grant1 including in housing1 employment1 health1 and wellness2 and 7#c7 other information requested by the ,secretary4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjai through #bjbb1 of which #ae1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year shall be allocated for the ,peer ,support ,networks under subsection 7b7 and #aj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year shall be allocated for the ,national ,peer ,run ,training and ,technical ,assistance ,center for ,addiction ,recovery ,support established under subsection 7f74 7i7 ,reports to ,congress ,not later than #a year after awarding the first grant under this section1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report describing the activities carried out under this section and containing an evaluation of such programs1 including outstanding challenges and barriers to substance use recovery1 and gaps in peer recovery support services4 4