NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE
1. Agency Information
Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health
2. Contact Persons
Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.
3. General Information
A. Rule or section catchline:
R523-6. Child/Family Peer Support Specialist Training and Certification
B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:
The Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (office) created two rules to address two separate types of peer support certification.
Rule R523-5 was created to address certification for individuals seeking to be adult mental health and later youth peer support specialists and Rule R523-6 was created to address certification for individuals seeking to be family resource facilitators for parents with children who are in treatment for behavioral health issues.
Over the years, the office has moved to centralize peer support services into a single collaborative team, and the requirements for all types of peer support certification have become more homogenized with similar nationally recognized best practices. These changes in peer support services caused the office to reevaluate the way peer support certifications were administered, so the decision was made to combine the provisions in these two rules and create a central peer support certification rule as a way of standardizing peer support in the state, reducing administrative burden, and creating a more customer friendly process across all peer support specialties.
This rule will be moved under Rule R523-5. As provisions from this rule are being incorporated into that rule through a repeal and readopt filing, this rule is no longer needed.
C. Summary of the new rule or change:
This rule is being repealed in its entirety, as provisions are being moved to Rule R523-5 through a concurrent filing.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The proposed repeal and readopt of Rule R523-5 is under ID 58275 in this issue, October 15, 2026, of the Bulletin.)
5. Fiscal Information
Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:
The Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (office) decided to simplify rules by creating one central peer support certification rule as a way of standardizing peer support in the state, reducing administrative burden, and creating a more customer friendly process across all peer support specialties.
Although this rule is being repealed, provisions previously housed in this rule are moving to Rule R523-5. The requirements and restrictions previously enforced through this rule will remain in effect through Rule R523-5.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that this filing, in conjunction with the filing implementing this rule's previous provisions into Rule R523-5, will have any fiscal impact to the state budget.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to local governments as a result of this filing, as provisions previously found within this rule are being moved under Rule R523-5. These changes are not anticipated to increase or decrease costs that already exist in local governments. The requirements and restrictions previously enforced through this rule will remain in effect through Rule R523-5.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that this filing, in conjunction with the filing implementing this rule's previous provisions into Rule R523-5, will have any fiscal impact to local governments.
C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to small businesses as a result of this filing, as provisions previously found within this rule are being moved under Rule R523-5. These changes are not anticipated to increase or decrease costs that already exist for small businesses. The requirements and restrictions previously enforced through this rule will remain in effect through Rule R523-5.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that this filing, in conjunction with the filing implementing this rule's previous provisions into Rule R523-5, will have any fiscal impact to small businesses.
D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to non-small businesses as a result of this filing, as provisions previously found within this rule are being moved under Rule R523-5. These changes are not anticipated to increase or decrease costs that already exist for non-small businesses. The requirements and restrictions previously enforced through this rule will remain in effect through Rule R523-5.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that this filing, in conjunction with the filing implementing this rule's previous provisions into Rule R523-5, will have any fiscal impact to non-small businesses.
E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency):
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to other persons as a result of this filing, as provisions previously found within this rule are being moved under Rule R523-5. These changes are not anticipated to increase or decrease costs that already exist for other persons. The requirements and restrictions previously enforced through this rule will remain in effect through Rule R523-5.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that this filing, in conjunction with the filing implementing this rule's previous provisions into Rule R523-5, will have any fiscal impact to other persons.
F. Compliance costs for affected persons:
There are no anticipated compliance costs for affected persons as a result of this filing, as provisions previously found within this rule are being moved under Rule R523-5. These changes are not anticipated to alter existing costs for affected persons. The requirements and restrictions previously enforced through this rule will remain in effect through Rule R523-5.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that this filing, in conjunction with the filing implementing this rule's previous provisions into Rule R523-5, will alter existing compliance costs.
6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table
Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable."
7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval
The Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tracy S. Gruber, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis.
8. Family Impact Information
A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and formation:
9. Citation Information
Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:
Subsection 26B-5-102(2)(gg)
11. Public Notice Information
The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.
A. Comments will be accepted until:
12. Effective Date Information
This rule change MAY become effective on:
(NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date)
13. Agency Authorization Information
Agency head or
designee and title:
Tracy S. Gruber, Commissioner
R523. Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health.
[R523-6. Child/Family Peer Support Specialist Training and Certification. R523-6-1. Purpose, Authority and Intent. (1) This rule prescribes standards for certification of Peer Support Specialist Training programs; the qualifications required of instructors for providing Peer Support Training; and the requirements to become a Child/Family Peer Support Specialist. (2) Statutory Authority. These standards are promulgated by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services through the Division of Integrated Healthcare (division) as authorized by Section 26B-5-102(2)(gg). (3) Intent. The objective of the peer support specialist training is to establish training programs to certify individuals that have completed requisite training to work as substance use disorder and/or mental health peer support specialists. (1) "Approved Curriculum" means a curriculum which has been approved by the division in accordance with these rules. (2) "Certification" means that the division verifies the individual has met the requirements outlined in this rule to be a peer support specialist and has completed the required training. (3) Child/Family Peer Support Specialist is a "Family Resource Facilitator" (FRF) who is an individual who has successfully completed an approved Family Resource Facilitator Training Program and for ongoing certification has met the requirements outlined in paragraph R523-6-6. (4) "Director" means the director of the Division of Integrated Healthcare. (5) "Division" means the Division of Integrated Healthcare. (6) "Peer Support Specialist Training Program" is an instructional series operated by an approved agency or organization which satisfies the standards established by the division and is herein referred to as a "Family Resource Facilitator Training Program". (7) "Program Certificate" is a written authorization issued by the division to the training entity which indicates that the Program has been found to be in compliance with these division standards. R523-6-3. Certification Requirements for PSS Training Programs. (1) An application for Program Certification will require that the program provide, among other things: (a) Qualifications of individuals who will be providing the training. (b) A curriculum that outlines no less than forty (40) hours of face-to-face instruction covering the curriculum requirements outlined in paragraph R523-6-5 for Family Resource Facilitator Training. (c) A plan to ensure that instructors continue to meet reported qualifications and adhere to the approved curriculum. (d) An agreement to maintain records of the individual's attendance and completion of all program requirements for at least seven years. (e) An agreement to comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. (2) The division director has the authority to grant exceptions to any of the certification requirements. R523-6-4. Division Oversight of Program. (1) The division may enter and survey the physical facility, program operation, review curriculum and interview staff to determine compliance with this rule or any applicable contract to provide such services. (2) The Family Resource Facilitator Training Program also agrees to allow representatives from the division and from the local authorities as authorized by the division to attend the classes held. Such visits may be announced or unannounced. (3) The division will establish an application process to review and approve applicants for the Family Resource Facilitator Training Program. This process will: 
