SRC-CDH H.B. 699 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 699
By: Coleman (Barrientos)
Health & Human Services
4-28-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, many mental health disciplines are adjusting their educational
or supervision hours to establish more equivalence between disciplines.
Initially, licensed professional counselors (LPCs) had a much higher
continuing education requirement that justified lower educational and
supervision requirements.  Recent changes to Texas Board of Examiners of
Professional Counselors rules have reduced the number of required
continuing education units for counselors.  Additionally, managed care
companies have begun denying LPCs access to provider panels because they
do not meet the national standards set by the National Board of Certified
Counselors.  H.B. 699 increases the number of required supervised hours
for licensure as a professional counselor in an effort to provide parity
with other disciplines, increase opportunities for consideration for third
party payments, and offer greater protections for the public via more
highly trained practitioners.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 699 establishes the requirements for licensing as a
professional counselor. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 10, Article 4512g, V.T.C.S. (Licensed
Professional Counselor Act), to provide that a person is a qualified
applicant if the person has completed 36, rather than 24, months or 3,000,
rather than 2,000, hours of supervised experience working in a counseling
setting. Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.