SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission to investigate, study, and evaluate the scope of mental health peer support programs in all regions of the commonwealth to determine the scope of peer programs, classification and types of peer specialists and appropriate training and certification requirements for such programs. The commission shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the director of Medicaid or a designee; a representative from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.; and 5 persons who shall be appointed by the secretary, 1 of whom shall have expertise in training peer specialists, 1 of whom shall be a family member to an individual with a mental illness, 1 of whom shall have lived experience with a mental illness, 1 of whom shall represent payers and 1 of whom shall currently be employed as a peer specialist. 

The commission study shall include, but not be limited to, an examination and identification of best practices related to training and credential requirements for peer specialist programs, including: (1) types and categories of services provided by peer programs, including support, rehabilitation and clinical programs; (2) types and categories of services that require certification; (3) supervision required for categories of services that require certification; (4) hours of formal work or volunteer experience related to mental health and substance use disorders conducted through such programs; (5) types of peer-support specialist exams required for such programs; (6) codes of ethics used by such programs; (7) required or recommended skill sets for such programs; (8) requirements for continuing education; (9) any other criteria necessary to develop peer specialist certification requirements; and (10) best practices from other states.

The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, to the department of mental health and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery not later than 1 year after the enactment of this act.