MA H5231

H5231: Establishing Peer Respites Throughout the Commonwealth

• Department of Mental Health required to establish a minimum of 14 regional peer respites, with at least 1 in each county, subject to appropriation
• Peer respites are voluntary, short-term, 24-hour residential programs in home-like settings staffed by "peer respite supporters" who have lived experience with mental health challenges
• At least 2 peer respites must specialize in serving LGBTQIA+ individuals and at least 2 must specialize in serving BIPOC communities, managed by individuals from those communities with relevant lived experience
• Each funded peer respite must begin operations within 18 months of appropriation; the Department must conduct analysis of regional gaps before contracting for new locations
• Annual reporting required: peer respites must report data to the Department by March 1, and the Department must submit implementation progress reports to legislative committees by October 1