August 26, 2026

More Hope, Less Cost: Legislature Opens Door for More Peer Counselors to Support Behavioral Health

Unanimous Support for AB 96 (Jackson) Says High School Diplomas Aren’t Necessary to be a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist; Lawmakers, Advocates Call on Governor Newsom to Sign

Sacramento, CA – The California Legislature today took a major step to improve the state’s behavioral health system by unanimously approving AB 96 by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley). This bill removes the existing requirement for Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists (CMPSS) to have a high school diploma or equivalent degree. At a time when California is short 3,000 CMPSSs, removing that roadblock will open the way to reach more Californians with a proven treatment model for recovering from mental health conditions and substance use disorder.

“Peer Support Specialists play a critical role in our behavioral health system, using their lived experience to help others find their path to recovery,” said Michelle Doty Cabrera, Executive Director of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, which co-sponsored AB 96. “Both the data and the first-hand experiences of Californians in recovery show peer support works.” 

 Peer Support Specialists have been embedded in California’s behavioral health system since 2020 when Governor Newsom signed legislation authorizing Peer Support as an option for counties to offer clients in Medi-Cal. They have proved so successful, the state is now facing a shortage of CMPSSs, with an immediate need for at least 3,000 more according to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information.

 “The lived experience of Peer Support Specialists is the most crucial component of their role,” said Assemblymember Jackson. “A high school diploma shouldn’t be a barrier to certification, especially amid a behavioral health crisis.” 

 “High school isn’t the only place to learn skills like communication, empathy and relatability,” said Meron Agonafer, Policy Director at Cal Voices, which co-sponsored AB 96. “Many potential Peer Support Specialists have learned those critical skills through their own, hard-won lived experiences, which makes for a powerful connection with the clients they’re serving.”

 AB 96 now moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.  

California’s County Behavioral Health Directors and Cal Voices believe in the power of peer support and see the results every day; the experiences peers share with clients is irreplaceable. We call on Gov. Newsom to build on his leadership in expanding access to this proven model by signing AB 96 promptly. 

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The County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA) is a nonprofit advocacy association representing the behavioral health directors from each of California’s 58 counties, as well as two cities (Berkeley and Tri-City). 

 Cal Voices is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with behavioral health challenges through advocacy, education, research, and culturally-relevant peer support services.