Advocates say proposed peer-recovery certification bill risks shrinking workforce; committee advances measure

Joel Pomales, policy committee member of the New Jersey Coalition for Addiction Recovery Support and CEO of Mainstream Recovery, told the Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee that Assembly Bill 3236 “risks undermining the workforce that it seeks to strengthen.” He testified that the bill’s approach would fold peer recovery certification into the same regulatory process clinicians follow, eroding the distinction between peer and clinical roles.

Pomales said the bill lacks clear involvement from people with lived experience, contains an “inadequate definition of lived experience,” and would create “unnecessary bureaucracy.” He warned that mandatory background checks could exclude people with criminal histories who are often central to peer roles, and he criticized the absence of a grandfathering provision for currently certified peers. He said New Jersey already aligns with national practice standards and urged collaboration to revise the bill before codifying rules into DCA regulations.

Committee members acknowledged concerns raised in testimony but repeatedly cited findings in the SCI report that prompted the legislation and said the measure aims to address bad-faith actors. After discussion, members moved to release the bill for further consideration.

The committee did not adopt amendments on the floor during today’s hearing. The next procedural step is that the bill, as released, will proceed for additional committee consideration and any subsequent amendments or hearings.