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SPONSOR: |
HGUAC |
DATE TYPED: |
02/11/02 |
HB |
168/HGUACS |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Mental Health Counselor’s Scope of Practice |
SB |
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ANALYST: |
Trujillo |
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APPROPRIATION
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Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
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FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
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NFI |
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NFI |
NFI |
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(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
LFC Files
Responses Received From:
Corrections Department (CD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Government and Urban Affairs Committee
Substitute for House Bill 168 adds
another exemption to the Counseling and Therapy Practice Act. The additional
exemption from the Act is defined as “a person in a corrections department
therapeutic community treatment program who is functioning as a peer mentor.”
Significant
Issues
According to CD the
department currently contracts for substance abuse treatment services that are
provided in a community setting. Some of the most effective counselors in these
types of programs are peer mentors. This bill assists the CD in continuing to
provide effective substance abuse and therapeutic community programs by
exempting from the standard licensing requirements those persons providing such
services in a CD therapeutic community treatment program.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
CD reports the bill will not result in cost
increases to the department.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
CD reports the bill could result in a minor
decrease in the administrative burden upon the department’s probation program
as well as prison program if the substance abuse services provided by these
mentors is effective in the rehabilitation of these offenders.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The educational requirements for peer counselors
and interns may need to be reviewed.
Dual diagnosis counselors need extensive education and training. Substance abuse counselors should have a
minimum of an associate degree and ninety hours of training.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
If there are peer
counselors for persons that have dual diagnosis (people with mental health as
well as drug problems) there may need to be some specific educational
requirements such as a bachelor's degree; there needs to be specific
educational and experience requirements for supervisors of peer counselors such
as a Master Degree in Social Work or a Ph.D. in psychology.
Substance abuse counselors should meet minimum
standards promulgated by an appropriate agency such as the Department of
Health. These should include standards
for education, training, experience and supervision of unlicensed peer
counselors and interns.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
(1) What
agency is going to promulgate the rules for the mental health counselors for
dual diagnosis clients and mental counselor, i.e., DOH or a professional
organization?
(2) What
organizations are considered "recognized forensic accreditation
programs"?
(3) Why
are there no educational requirements for "peer counselors?
[1]Begin typing on the * in replace mode. Do not add or delete spaces.