,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddaf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #d1 #bjbj,ms4 ,cortez ,masto introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to provide funding for the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use to award grants for the purpose of supporting virtual peer behavioral health support services1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,virtual ,peer ,support ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,virtual platforms for in-person peer behavioral health support services 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary71 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use1 shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to-- 7#a7 transition in-person peer behavioral health support services to virtual platforms2 or 7#b7 expand and improve virtual peer behavioral health support services4 7b7 ,application and selection process 7#a7 ,applications ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall1 as a condition for receiving such grant1 submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,selection 7,a7 ,reservations 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall reserve not less than #ej percent of the amount appropriated under subsection 7f7 for awarding grants under this section to eligible entities that are-- 7,i7 community-based providers2 or 7,,ii7 ,tribal communities in accordance with clause 7ii74 7ii7 ,tribal governments 7,i7 ,in general ,subject to subclause 7,,ii71 of the amount reserved under clause 7i71 not less than #h percent shall be reserved for grants under this section to ,tribal communities4 7,,ii7 ,remaining amounts ,in the case that there are remaining funds after the reservation under subclause 7,i7 due to an insufficient number of ,tribal communities that apply for a grant under this section1 any such remaining funds shall be used towards grants to community-based providers that serve ,tribal communities4 7,b7 ,maximum geographic representation ,subject to subparagraph 7,a7 and the eligible entities that submit applications under paragraph 7#a71 in selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall1 to the maximum extent possible1 ensure that the residents of all ,states and ,tribal communities are served by at least #a grant under this section4 7c7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use the funds awarded through such grant to-- 7,a7 carry out workforce development1 recruitment1 and retention activities1 to train1 recruit1 and retain certified peer-support specialists2 7,b7 transition a network of in-person1 peer-facilitated behavioral health support services to a virtual platform for such behavioral health support services2 7,c7 expand or improve virtual1 peer behavioral health support services carried out by the entity prior to the date of enactment of this section2 7,d7 adopt technologies to transition in-person peer behavioral health support services to virtual peer behavioral health support services1 including by acquiring-- 7i7 appropriate physical hardware for such virtual services2 7ii7 software and programs to efficiently run peer support services virtually2 and 7iii7 other technology for establishing virtual waiting rooms and virtual video platforms for meetings2 7,e7 7i7 provide multilingual virtual peer behavioral health support services as needed within the community2 and 7ii7 provide language access services1 including translation and interpretation services1 with respect to virtual peer behavioral health support services to allow individuals with limited-,english proficiency and individuals with disabilities to access such services2 7,f7 provide targeted virtual peer behavioral health support services to demographics such as-- 7i7 those heavily impacted by the ,,covid-#ai response such as clinicians1 emergency service workers1 nurses1 and physicians2 and 7ii7 populations such as those who are high risk or potentially face barriers to care due to the pandemic1 including veterans1 rural communities1 seniors1 youth1 young adults1 parents1 and caregivers2 7,g7 provide #a-on-#a peer support services when feasible to provide additional support to individuals2 7,h7 increase awareness of peer support resources in the community by conducting outreach and education including through webinars and podcasts2 7,i7 provide funding for certification and salaries for certified peer-support specialists2 7,j7 conduct research to demonstrate the efficacy of virtual peer support2 and 7,k7 provide funding for the staffing and administrative needs of the eligible entity to carry out virtual peer behavioral health support services for not less than #a year4 7#b7 ,requirements for support services ,a behavioral health support service supported under this section shall-- 7,a7 be provided by a certified peer-support specialist2 7,b7 be provided at no cost to the recipients of such service2 7,c7 incorporate promising or evidence-based practices for providing peer behavioral health support to recipients2 and 7,d7 comply with the requirements for nondiscrimination under paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,nondiscrimination ,no individual in the ,united ,states shall1 on the basis of the actual or perceived race1 color1 national origin1 sex 7including sexual orientation and gender identity71 age1 language proficiency1 or disability of the individual be excluded from participation in1 denied the benefits of1 or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving any funding made available under subsection 7f74 7d7 ,grant amount 7#a7 ,in general ,except for a grant described in subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 each grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount of not less than #a1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,community-based providers and ,tribal communities ,the ,secretary shall determine an appropriate amount for each grant awarded under subsection 7b77#b77;,a7 to a community-based provider or ,tribal community4 7e7 ,report to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,committees described in paragraph 7#b7 that includes an analysis of the outcomes of the grants awarded under this section1 such as outcomes measured by the level of participation in peer support services receiving funds under subsection 7f71 the development of a peer support-specialist workforce1 any barriers and challenges in developing recommendations to assist individuals in need of peer behavioral health support services1 and any other measure determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,committees ,the ,committees described in this paragraph are each of the following3 7,a7 ,the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate 7,c7 ,the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,d7 ,the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives4 7f7 ,funding ,there is appropriated1 out of amounts in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 to remain available until expended1 #ej1jjj1jjj to carry out this section4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,certified peer-support specialist ,the term certified peer-support specialist means an individual who-- 7,a7 is a self-identified current or former recipient of behavioral health services who has the ability to support other individuals diagnosed with a mental illness or substance use disorder2 and 7,b7 7i7 is certified in accordance with applicable ,state law to provide peer support services in behavioral health settings2 or 7ii7 is certified as qualified to furnish peer support services under a certification process consistent with the ,national ,practice ,guidelines for ,peer ,supporters and inclusive of the core competencies identified by the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration in the ,core ,competencies for ,peer ,workers in ,behavioral ,health ,settings4 7#b7 ,community-based provider ,the term community-based provider means an eligible entity that is a consumer-controlled or consumer-run organization and is certified in accordance with applicable ,state law to deliver peer support services at a ,state or local level1 and not at the national level4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a consumer-controlled or consumer-run organization1 or a ,tribal community1 that-- 7,a7 facilitates evidence-informed peer behavioral health support services2 7,b7 offers certified peer-support training2 7,c7 prior to the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai1 operated a network of in-person or virtual peer-facilitated behavioral health support services or group meetings at no cost to the participants2 and 7,d7 has the capability to1 or is able to show how it will have the capability to1 launch and support a virtual platform for peer behavioral health support services4 7#d7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bja74 7#e7 ,tribal community ,the term ,tribal community means an ,indian tribe1 tribal organization1 or urban ,indian organization1 as such terms are defined in section #d of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc74