1Providing for peer-to-peer support for veterans; and making an
2appropriation.

3The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4hereby enacts as follows:

5Section 1. Short title.

6This act shall be known and may be cited as the Peer-to-Peer
7Support for Veterans Act.

8Section 2. Legislative findings.

9The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

10(1) The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a moral duty
11and responsibility to provide proper services to its military
12personnel and veterans, including the new class of veterans
13returning from deployment in United States military
14operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

15(2) While many individuals will return with physical
16injuries and disabilities, a larger number will return with
17psychological injuries connected to the trauma and stress

1associated with combat.

2(3) Posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain
3injury, military sexual trauma and alarming rates of suicide
4among active duty personnel and veterans require the
5Commonwealth to take immediate action to ensure that the
6proper mental health, addiction and other services are
7available to its military personnel.

8(4) Statistics have shown that over 300,000 veterans, or
9approximately one in five, of Operation Iraqi Freedom and
10Operation Enduring Freedom were diagnosed with posttraumatic
11stress disorder by the end of 2012. Treatment costs for the
12veterans have been estimated to exceed $2,000,000,000.

13(5) In 2012, there were approximately 3,374 reported
14cases of military sexual trauma, which includes rape, sexual
15assault and sexual harassment. However, it is estimated that
16approximately 26,000 service members experienced unwanted
17sexual contact.

18(6) In 2012, suicide rates among active duty personnel
19averaged one per day.

20(7) Veterans now account for 20% of all United States
21suicides, with veterans under 24 years of age committing
22suicide at rates four times higher than other veterans
23groups.

24(8) Posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain
25injury, military sexual trauma and suicide among veterans are
26often linked with alcohol or substance abuse as veterans seek
27to find relief from the symptoms and feelings.

28(9) Unfortunately, the stigma attached to receiving
29mental health treatment often causes military personnel and
30veterans to avoid seeking professional treatment for their

1condition.

2(10) Establishing a program where veterans can support
3one another through peer-to-peer counseling may assist in
4removing the stigma surrounding receipt of mental health or
5addiction services and allow veterans to receive needed care
6as the veterans recover from the psychological scars often
7associated with military service.

8Section 3. Definitions.

9The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11context clearly indicates otherwise:

12"Certified peer counselor." An individual who meets all of
13the following:

14(1) Has personal experience as a mental health treatment
15recipient or who is in recovery from alcohol abuse, sexual
16abuse or trauma, substance abuse or chemical dependence.

17(2) Has:

18(i) served in the active military or naval service
19of the United States or the Pennsylvania National Guard
20and has been released from service other than by
21dishonorable discharge, as documented by the individual's
22discharge papers; or

23(ii) been furloughed to the reserve components of
24the armed forces of the United States.

25(3) Has the training, credentials or experience to
26provide counseling and is recognized by the department under
27this act.

28"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.

29"Peer support service." A service that meets all of the
30following:

1(1) Is designated by the department and which is used in
2the treatment of and recovery from mental illness, sexual
3abuse trauma, alcohol abuse, substance abuse or chemical
4dependence.

5(2) Is delivered by a certified peer counselor.

6"Secretary." The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth.

7"Veteran." As defined in 51 Pa.C.S. § 9601 (relating to
8definitions).

9Section 4. Duties of department.

10(a) Establishment of programs.--Notwithstanding any other
11provision of law, the secretary, in conjunction with the
12Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the
13Adjutant General, or the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans'
14Affairs if designated by the Adjutant General, shall develop and
15establish a minimum of four regional peer support service
16programs for veterans in this Commonwealth. The department
17shall, if possible, establish the programs in a manner that
18ensures access to a program by all veterans within this
19Commonwealth regardless of geographic location.

20(b) Services.--Services provided by a peer support service
21program established under subsection (a) shall include peer-to-
22peer counseling for all of the following:

23(1) Mental health issues, including treatment and
24recovery support for posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic
25brain injury and depression.

26(2) Alcohol, substance abuse or chemical dependence
27treatment and recovery support, including treatment planning,
28recovery coaching and relapse prevention.

29(3) Military sexual trauma treatment and recovery
30support.

1(4) Co-occurring disorders.

2(5) Any other counseling service which the department
3believes will further the intent and goals of this act.

4Section 5. Certified peer counselors.

5The department, in conjunction with the Department of Public
6Welfare, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the
7Adjutant General, or the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans'
8Affairs if designated by the Adjutant General, shall establish
9guidelines for the recruitment, training and development of
10individuals capable of providing the services under section
114(b). The guidelines shall include the establishment of minimum
12qualifications to receive credentials as a certified peer
13counselor and procedures to suspend, revoke or annul the
14credentials.

15Section 6. Nonprofit organization.

16Nothing under this act shall prohibit the department from
17contracting with nonprofit organizations within this
18Commonwealth that provide services to veterans to offer peer-to-
19peer counseling in accordance with this act.

20Section 7. Publication.

21(a) Duty.--The department shall publish the contact
22information for an entity offering peer-to-peer counseling under
23this act in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

24(b) The department and the Department of Military Affairs
25shall each post the contact information for an entity offering
26peer-to-peer counseling under this act on its publicly
27accessible Internet website.

28Section 20. Appropriation.

29The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated to the department to
30carry out the provisions of this act.

1Section 21. Effective date.

2This act shall take effect in 60 days.