§ 6510-c. Nurse peer assistance programs. 1. As used in this section: a. "Drug-related problem" means a problem or problems that are related to the use, misuse or addiction to drugs or alcohol. b. "Participant" means an individual licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-nine of this title who has or may have a drug-related problem. c. "Approved nurse peer assistance program" means a program operated by the New York State Nurses Association or a statewide professional association of nurses which has experience in providing peer assistance services to nurses who have drug-related problems which are designed to help a participant or a licensee's employer and has been approved by the department in accordance with criteria established in regulations of the commissioner. d. "Peer assistance services" includes assessing the needs of a participant, including early identification of drug-related problems, and providing information, support, and advice as requested by a participant. 2. a. The department shall provide funds, including but not limited to a portion of the funds made available pursuant to the provisions of this section, for services provided by an approved nurse peer assistance program. Funds used to provide services shall not be used for the treatment of participants. Funded services shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) providing peer assistance services for nurses with drug-related problems;

(2) maintaining a toll-free telephone information line for anonymous nurses, their employers, and others to provide assistance in the identification of services and information for nurses dealing with drug-related problems; 3. training monitors for the professional assistance program; 4. arranging for mental health consultants to assess nurses for the professional assistance program, as needed; and 5. preparing written assessments of nurses who have been referred from the professional assistance program. b. An additional fee of fifteen dollars shall be paid at the time of application for licensure and first registration and every registration by those licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-nine of this title for the purpose of implementing this program. The funds made available under this provision shall be deposited in the office of professions special revenue account for its purposes in implementing this section. The department may use a portion of this amount for its administrative expenses incurred in implementing this program including, but not limited to, employment of personnel, the costs of approving and contracting with a peer assistance program as required by this section and outreach activities to promote this program. 3. No approved nurse peer assistance program or individual who serves in an approved nurse peer assistance program shall be liable in damages to any person for any action taken or not taken or recommendations made unless, based on the facts disclosed by a participant, the conduct of the program or person with respect to the person asserting liability constituted negligence, gross negligence, or intentional misconduct. 4. All information concerning a participant gathered by the approved nurse peer assistance program shall be strictly confidential and may not be released to any person or body without the consent of the participant, except upon the order of a court in a pending action or proceeding. Aggregate data may be released to the committee on drug and alcohol abuse.