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Advisory committee backs AB 96 to remove high-school requirement for certified peer support specialists
Summary
The committee recommended that the full Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission support AB 96 (Jackson), which would remove the high-school diploma/equivalent requirement for certified medical peer support specialists while retaining other certification standards; commissioners discussed implementation, billing and workforce supply concerns.
The Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the full Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission support AB 96 (Jackson), a bill that, as amended, removes the high-school diploma or equivalent requirement for certified medical peer support specialists while keeping existing certification competencies and ethical standards intact.
"As amended, AB 96 will remove the high school requirement for certified medical peer support specialists," said the Cal Voices policy director who presented the bill. Presenters and staff emphasized that the Department of Health Care Services would continue to set core competencies and that CalMesa is the certifying entity for the program.
Supporters told the committee that California already has thousands of certified peers: the presenters cited about 8,447 certified peer support specialists and an ACHI report identifying a 47% statewide gap that implies an immediate need for roughly 3,000 additional peer support specialists. Presenters said removing the educational-equivalency barrier would expand the candidate pool without changing training or ethical requirements.
Commissioners asked whether the measure would affect billing under Medi-Cal and whether peer specialists could still pursue community health worker (CHW) certification pathways. Presenters said the bill does not automatically convert peer support specialists into CHWs; it removes the high-school requirement but leaves other CHW pathways available. Department of Health Care Services staff were described as aware of AB 96 and had not raised objections in those conversations.
Public commenters and advocates at the meeting urged support for AB 96 and pressed the commission to address questions about how many certified peers are actively billing and how counties are using the peer workforce. Committee members moved and seconded a recommendation that the full commission support AB 96 and direct staff to communicate that position to the Legislature and governor; the motion passed by a majority of commissioners present.
Next steps: the committee recommended the position and staff will communicate the commission's support to legislative offices and the governor's office.
