HBA-NMO H.B. 1336 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1336 By: Flores Public Health 2/25/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires marriage and family therapists, in order to qualify for licensure after receiving their graduate degree, to have at least two supervised years of work experience in marriage and family therapist services, including at least 1000 hours of clinical practice, of which at least 200 must be supervised in an acceptable manner. However, many health maintenance organizations require 3000 supervised clinical hours for therapists to qualify to be included on their provider panels. This may limit a marriage and family therapist's ability to be selected as a provider for insurance plans. In addition, some clients may not be able to distinguish between a marriage and family therapy intern who is still in graduate school and an intern who has graduated, but is still under supervised clinical practice. H.B. 1336 increases the number of hours of clinical practice required to qualify for licensure to 3000. This bill also creates the "marriage and family therapist associate" licensing designation. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S. (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act), by adding Subdivision (6), as follows: (6) Defines "licensed marriage and family therapist associate" as an individual who offers to provide marriage and family therapy for compensation under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist. SECTION 2. Amends Section 15(b), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to prohibit a person who is not licensed under this Act from using the title "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate." SECTION 3. Amends Section 17, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to provide that an application for a license be accompanied by the appropriate application fee, rather than the application fee. Provides that a person is eligible to apply for a license if the person, in two years of work experience in marriage and family therapist services, has at least 3,000 hours of clinical practice, including 1,500, rather than 1,000, hours consisting of direct clinical services to individuals, couples, or families; and at least 750, rather than 500, hours consisting of direct clinical services to couples or families. Provides that an applicant for a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist associate or licensed marriage and family therapist must pass an examination determined by the board or be exempt from the examination. Redesignates existing Subsection (c) to Subsection (d). Makes conforming changes. SECTION 4. Amends Section 18, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (board) to notify each applicant whether the application has been accepted or rejected not later than the 90th day after the date of receipt of the completed application, in addition to not later than the 30th day before the date of the examination. Provides that an applicant is eligible to take the examination if the applicant is enrolled in a graduate internship in marriage and family therapy, or equivalent, as approved by the board; and if the applicant provides proof to the board that the applicant is a student in good standing. Redesignates existing Subsections (c)-(e) to Subsections (d)-(f), respectively. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 5. Amends Section 20(a), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the board to issue a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist or licensed marriage and family therapist associate, as appropriate, rather than an appropriate license, to an individual who possesses the necessary requirements, passes the licensing examination, unless exempted from the examination requirement by the board, and pays the required fees. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 7. Emergency clause.