An Act establishing peer-run respite centers throughout the Commonwealth

This bill establishes 14 peer-run respite centers across Massachusetts, requiring at least one per county. It mandates two specialized centers for LGBTQIA+ individuals (run by LGBTQIA+ staff with lived experience) and two for BIPOC communities (run by BIPOC staff with lived experience), all operating as non-clinical, short-term, community-based programs. Centers must provide voluntary, trauma-informed support focused on recovery and social connection, not clinical services, with staff trained in peer support. The state department must fund these centers to cover staffing, training, and operations while ensuring compensation rates support retention of qualified peer supporters. The bill directly affects individuals experiencing mental distress seeking crisis support and peer supporters with lived experience in behavioral health.