Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1238 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1413 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1238
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Joanne M. Comerford
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing peer-run respite centers throughout the Commonwealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester 1 of 5
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1413 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1238
18	18	By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1238) of Joanne M. Comerford
19	19	for legislation to establish peer-run respite centers throughout the Commonwealth. Mental
20	20	Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act establishing peer-run respite centers throughout the Commonwealth.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 19 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
30	30	2section:-
31	31	3 Section 26. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
32	32	4requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
33	33	5 “Department”, the department of mental health.
34	34	6 “Guests”, a person aged 18 and over who has been accepted by a peer-run respite center
35	35	7and approved to stay at or receive services from the center.
36	36	8 “LGBTQIA+”, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or other
37	37	9gender identities and sexual orientations that individuals may identify as.
38	38	10 “Peer respites”, voluntary, short-term residential programs that provide community-
39	39	11based, trauma-informed, person-centered support and prevention on a 24-hour basis in a 2 of 5
40	40	12homelike environment to persons age 18 or older who are experiencing emotional or mental
41	41	13distress either as an immediate precursor to or as a part of a crisis.
42	42	14 “Peer respite services”, voluntary, trauma-informed, short-term services provided to
43	43	15persons age 18 or older, in a home-like environment, which are the least restrictive of individual
44	44	16freedom, culturally competent, and focus on recovery, resiliency, and wellness.
45	45	17 “Peer-run organization”, a non-profit entity that is controlled and operated by individuals
46	46	18who have psychiatric histories or have faced and navigated other life-interrupting challenges and
47	47	19which provide a venue for support and advocacy for individuals who experience similar
48	48	20struggles.
49	49	21 “Peer-run organizations”, shall mean all of the following: (a) organizations that specialize
50	50	22in provision of peer support; (b) where a majority of their leadership, including both senior
51	51	23leadership and the Board of Directors, identify as having psychiatric histories or navigating
52	52	24similar life-interrupting challenges; (c) have specialized in provision of peer support for a
53	53	25minimum of 5 years; and (d) do not provide any clinical mental health services or where clinical
54	54	26mental health services make up less than 10 per cent of their primary services provided.
55	55	27 “Peer-run respite center”, a safe, physical space for people experiencing emotional or
56	56	28mental distress that addresses the social isolation and lack of social connectedness that many
57	57	29people say they feel. A peer-run respite center shall offer peer support and peer respite services
58	58	30by peer supporters. All peer-run respite centers must be peer-run organizations and peer respites.
59	59	31 “Peer support services”, assistance that promotes engagement, socialization, recovery,
60	60	32self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, identification of strengths, and
61	61	33maintenance of skills learning in other support services. 3 of 5
62	62	34 “Peer supporters”, individuals who are trained in the provision of peer support services,
63	63	35and who have psychiatric histories or have faced and navigated similarly life-interrupting
64	64	36challenges. Such individuals shall be trained in and capable of providing community-based,
65	65	37trauma-informed, person-centered peer support and peer respite services, as these terms are
66	66	38defined herein.
67	67	39 (b) The department shall establish a minimum of 14 peer-run respite centers throughout
68	68	40the Commonwealth, with each county having at least one peer-run respite center. The department
69	69	41shall allocate and provide funding necessary for, and assist with the establishment of the peer-run
70	70	42respite centers. All peer-run respite centers shall be peer-run organizations and shall constitute
71	71	43peer respites.
72	72	44 (c) Two of the peer-run respite centers shall be established for the purpose of serving
73	73	45LGBTQIA+ individuals. The LGBTQIA+ peer-run respite centers shall be managed, operated,
74	74	46and controlled by individuals identifying as members of the LGBTQIA+ community who also
75	75	47have psychiatric histories or related lived experience. The LGBTQIA+ peer-run respite centers
76	76	48shall be located in Hampden County and Suffolk County.
77	77	49 (d) All peer-run respite centers shall employ peer supporters and be managed and
78	78	50operated by individuals with psychiatric histories or lived experience with similarly life-
79	79	51interrupting challenges. All peer supporters shall be required to receive and complete trainings as
80	80	52required to perform the essential job functions of a peer supporter in this context. All peer
81	81	53supporters working for the LGBTQIA+ peer respites shall also receive additional training
82	82	54required to serve members of this community. 4 of 5
83	83	55 (e) Each peer-run respite center shall be equipped to provide guests with peer respite and
84	84	56peer support services and required by regulations implementing the provisions of this section.
85	85	57Each peer-run respite center shall be approved to and capable of providing guests with short-
86	86	58term, temporary lodging consistent with the definition of peer respites, as well as the
87	87	59requirements of this section and regulations implementing this section.
88	88	60 (f) The department shall only contract with peer-run organizations for the establishment
89	89	61of peer-run respite centers under this section. Peer-run respite centers shall be responsible for the
90	90	62provision, operation, and control of peer respite facilities, as well as peer respite and support
91	91	63services.
92	92	64 (g) The department shall provide funding for all peer-run respite centers that is sufficient
93	93	65to ensure that each peer-run respite center is capable of providing peer respite and peer support
94	94	66services. In making such appropriations necessary for this purpose, the department shall consider
95	95	67and account for funds needed for the purpose of: (i) recruiting peer supporters; (ii) training peer
96	96	68supporters; (iii) supervising and overseeing peer supporters; and (iv) conducting informational
97	97	69sessions and trainings on the functions and qualifications of peer supporters. Peer supporters
98	98	70shall be compensated at a rate sufficient to ensure that highly trained and skilled peer supporters
99	99	71will be retained, and to maximize positive impact of supports.
100	100	72 (h) The department shall work with existing peer-run organizations providing peer respite
101	101	73services to identify training requirements, which may differ from training requirements for peer
102	102	74supporters or peer specialists working in other contexts, as well as a fidelity tool to establish and
103	103	75measure ongoing adherence to the basic components of each peer respite based on current
104	104	76leading guides to peer respites. 5 of 5
105	105	77 (i) The department shall also work with existing peer-run organizations, as well as
106	106	78stakeholders within the LGBTQIA+ community, to develop training requirements for individuals
107	107	79seeking to work as peer supporters in LGBTQIA+ peer-run respite centers.
108	108	80 (j) The department, in consultation with existing peer-run organizations, shall develop
109	109	81regulations for the establishment and operation of the peer-run respite centers. Such regulations
110	110	82shall employ definitions and criteria consistent with this section.
111	111	83 (k) The department shall prepare an annual report on its progress towards implementing
112	112	84this section. The report shall identify any challenges and barriers regarding implementation, and
113	113	85detail the department’s strategy for overcoming any identified challenges or barriers. The report
114	114	86shall be provided to the committee on mental health, substance abuse and recovery, the
115	115	87committee on public health, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and published
116	116	88on the public website of the department no later than October 1 each year.