JKC C.S.H.B. 699 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


HUMAN SERVICES
C.S.H.B. 699
By: Coleman
3-10-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) have traditionally fallen behind
other mental health disciplines in acquiring recognition as professionals
due to a discrepancy either in required educational hours or supervision
hours.  Many disciplines are currently adjusting their hours to establish
more equivalence between disciplines.  Initially, LPCs had a much higher
continuing education requirement that justified lower educational and
supervision requirements.  However, recent changes to Texas Board of
Examiners of Professional Counselors rules have reduced the number or
required CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for counselors.  In addition,
managed care companies have also begun denying LPCs access to provider
panels because they do not meet the national standards set by the National
Board of Certified Counselors. 

PURPOSE

HB 699 increases the number of required supervised hours for licensure as
a professional counselor.  Increasing the required number of supervised
hours will provide parity with other disciplines,  increase opportunities
to be considered for third party payments, and offer greater protections
for the public via more highly trained practitioners.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1:Amends Section 10, Applicant Qualifications, Licensed
Professional Counselor Act (Article 4512g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)
as follows: 

 Subsection (5) is amended by increasing the required amount of experience
working in a counseling setting from 24 to 36 months or from 2,000 to
3,000 supervised hours. 

Subsection (7)(b) is amended by increasing the number of hours of
supervised work experience from 2,000 to 3,000. 

Section 2:Effective date.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997 and
applies only to a person who applies for a professional counselor's
license on or after that date. 

Section 3:Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 2 pertaining to the effective date of the Act is the only change
between H.B. 699 and C.S.H.B. 699.  The original bill had an effective
date of January 1, 1999 and applied to a person applying for a
professional counselor's license on or after that date.  The new effective
date contained in the substitute bill is September 1, 1997 and applies
only to a person who begins a graduate program in counseling or related
field after September 1, 1997.