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                <ns0:Id>20250AB__009697AMD</ns0:Id>
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                                <ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
                                <ns0:ActionDate>2025-01-07</ns0:ActionDate>
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                                <ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
                                <ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-11</ns0:ActionDate>
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                                <ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
                                <ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-05</ns0:ActionDate>
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                <ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson</ns0:AuthorText>
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                                <ns0:Name>Jackson</ns0:Name>
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                <ns0:Title>An act to amend Section 14045.15 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.</ns0:Title>
                <ns0:RelatingClause>Medi-Cal</ns0:RelatingClause>
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                        <ns0:Subject>Mental health services: peer support specialist certification.</ns0:Subject>
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                        <html:p>Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program and provides for various services, including behavioral and mental health services that are rendered by Medi-Cal enrolled providers.</html:p>
                        <html:p>Existing law authorizes a county, or an agency representing the county, to develop a peer support specialist certification program, subject to department approval. Existing law imposes specified requirements on applicants for certification as a peer support specialist,
                         including that the applicant be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or equivalent degree.</html:p>
                        <html:p>This bill would remove the requirement of possessing a high school diploma or equivalent degree from the requirements necessary for an applicant to receive certification.</html:p>
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                <ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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                        <ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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                                Section 14045.15 of the
                                <ns0:DocName>Welfare and Institutions Code</ns0:DocName>
                                 is amended to read:
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                                        <ns0:Num>14045.15.</ns0:Num>
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                                                                (a)
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                                                                To receive a certification under this article, an applicant shall meet all of the following requirements:
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                                                                (1)
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                                                                Be at least 18 years of age.
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                                                                (2)
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                                                                Be self-identified as having experience with the process of recovery from mental illness or
                                                substance use disorder either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer.
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                                                                (3)
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                                                                Be willing to share their experience.
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                                                                Have a strong dedication to recovery.
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                                                                (5)
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                                                                Agree, in writing, to adhere to a code of ethics.
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                                                                (6)
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                                                                Successfully complete the curriculum and training requirements for a peer support specialist.
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                                                                (7)
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                                                                Pass a
                                                certification examination approved by the department for a peer support specialist.
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                                                                (b)
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                                                                To maintain certification under this article, a certified peer support specialist shall meet both of the following requirements:
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                                                                (1)
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                                                                Adhere to the code of ethics and biennially sign an affirmation.
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                                                                (2)
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                                                                Complete any required continuing education, training, and recertification requirements.
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