SECTION 354.3055. Ethical Responsibilities

(a) A peer specialist may not:

(1) practice psychotherapy, make clinical or diagnostic assessments, or dispense expert opinions;

(2) engage in any service that requires a license;

(3) falsify any documentation related to application, training, testing, certification, or services provided under this subchapter;

(4) retaliate against any person who, in good faith, makes a complaint or files a grievance against the peer specialist regarding services provided under this subchapter;

(5) engage in conduct that is prohibited by state, federal, or local law, including those laws prohibiting the use, possession, or distribution of drugs or alcohol;

(6) participate in, condone, or promote discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical disability, or economic status in the performance of peer specialist services or training;

(7) delay or fail to report suspicion of abuse or neglect to the proper authority;

(8) violate law, rule, or policy related to a recipient's privacy and confidentiality;

(9) violate professional and personal boundaries, including having sexual contact with a recipient; or

(10) have a dual relationship with a recipient.

(b) This section does not preclude a certification entity from creating a more expansive or detailed list of certified peer specialist ethical responsibilities.

Source Note: The provisions of this §354.3055 adopted to be effective January 1, 2019, 43 TexReg 8573