This bill aims to revise the laws governing the Board of Behavioral Health in Montana by introducing certification and regulation for family peer support specialists and providing a licensure exemption for religious officials. Key amendments include the addition of certification requirements for both behavioral health peer support and family peer support specialists, which will now be recognized alongside existing licensure for social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, and addiction counseling. The bill also clarifies the definitions of behavioral health and family peer support, emphasizing the importance of personal experience in providing support to individuals with behavioral health needs.

Additionally, the bill outlines the qualifications necessary for certification as a peer support specialist, including a diagnosis of a behavioral health disorder, completion of an approved program, and a requirement for recovery. It specifies that family peer support specialists must have personal experience as caregivers of children with significant needs. The legislation also includes provisions for the board to maintain a list of approved programs and ensure that the content of these programs is flexible and inclusive. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the support system for individuals with behavioral health challenges in Montana while ensuring that practitioners meet established standards.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(1): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(2): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(3): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(4): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(5): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(6): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1(7): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_1: 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(1): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(2): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(3): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(4): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(5): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(6): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(7): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(8): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2(9): 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312
HB0076_2: 37-39-101, 37-39-102, 37-39-303, 37-39-307, 37-39-312