The bill proposes a significant shift in the regulation of behavioral health peer support specialists in Montana, moving from a licensure framework to a credentialing system. It introduces new terminology such as "credentialing" and "credentialed behavioral health peer support specialist," and establishes three levels of certification: Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist Credentialing Candidate, and Credentialed Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist. The bill outlines specific training, supervision, and continuing education requirements for each certification level, while emphasizing the necessity of supervision by qualified mental health professionals and setting standards of conduct for these specialists.

Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate these changes, including definitions and credentialing requirements. It specifies that the supervision for certified specialists may vary based on their competency and experience, and introduces new supervisor qualifications, requiring them to hold an active license in good standing for at least three years or complete board-approved training in supervision. A transition provision allows individuals certified before October 1, 2022, or those with 1,000 hours of supervised experience, to be credentialed without meeting the new requirements. The bill also promotes inclusivity in training course approvals, ensuring that courses from faith-based or culturally based entities are not excluded based solely on their origin. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the professional framework and support for behavioral health peer support services in Montana.

Statutes affected:
SB0198_1.pdf: 37-38-101, 37-38-102, 37-38-106, 37-38-201, 37-38-202
SB0198_2.pdf: 37-38-101, 37-38-102, 37-38-106, 37-38-201, 37-38-202
Amended: 37-38-101, 37-38-102, 37-38-106, 37-38-201, 37-38-202
Introduced: 37-38-101, 37-38-102, 37-38-106, 37-38-201, 37-38-202