"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 71.24 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The Washington state peer support advisory committee is established.

(2)(a) The advisory committee shall consist of 11 members. Nine members must be peer counselors. Those nine members shall be inclusive of diverse populations and include mental health peers, substance use disorder peers, community-based peers, peers who work in clinical settings, youth peers, adult peers, and peer supervisors. The advisory committee shall be reflective of the community who receives peer services, including people who are Black, indigenous, people of color, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ. All members of the advisory committee must be residents of Washington state. Members may not hold an office in a professional association for peer specialists or be employed by the state. A majority of the members currently serving shall constitute a quorum.

(b) The members shall be appointed by the director of the authority to serve three-year terms which may be renewed. Initial members shall be appointed to staggered terms which may be less than three years. The advisory committee shall select a chair and vice chair.

(3) The authority is encouraged to adopt recommendations as submitted by the advisory committee on topics related to the administration of this chapter and provide their rationale for any formal recommendations of the advisory committee that the authority does not adopt. The advisory committee shall develop a multiyear strategic plan for peer support trainings and workforce development that includes:

(a) Recommendations on developing education and training pathways in support of the peer counselor certification program;

(b) Recommendations on developing multiple pathways to peer support careers that includes planning for a formal certification pathway;

(c) Assistance and recommendations regarding development of continuing education and continuing competency programs including minimum requirements to maintain certification;

(d) Assistance and recommendations in development of a supervisory track for peer counselors including additional training and service hour requirements;

(e) Assistance and recommendations to enhance patient and client education;

(f) A review of existing authority policies and procedures related to peer counselors;

(g) Advice on approving additional education and training entities, other than the authority, to conduct the course of instruction under this chapter to expand availability of the course;

(h) Recommendations on recruitment and retention in the peer profession, including among black, indigenous, people of color, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ; and

(i) Recommendations on strategies to eliminate financial barriers to licensing as peer counselors.

(4) Advisory committee members are immune from suit in an action, civil or criminal, based on the department's disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed in good faith.

(5) Advisory committee members shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240, including travel expenses in carrying out his or her authorized duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 71.24 RCW to read as follows:

The authority shall develop and maintain a registry of certified peer counselors who have successfully completed the peer counselor certification program under RCW 70.385.020.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 71.24 RCW to read as follows:

In consultation with the advisory committee, the authority shall approve a program of continuing education for certified peer counselors. After initial certification as a peer counselor, certified peer counselors shall be required to complete the minimum number of hours of continuing education in a single three-year recertification period as required by the authority to maintain certification."