SRC-DBM S.B. 413 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 413
76R4609  JMM-DBy: Madla
Health Services
2/19/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, marriage and family therapists are required by law to receive
2000 hours of "supervised clinical practice" after receiving their graduate
degree in order to qualify for a license.   However, many HMOs require 3000
supervised clinical hours for counselors to qualify to be included on their
provider panels.  This limits a marriage and family therapist's ability to
be selected as a provider for insurance plans.  S.B. 413 will require
marriage and family therapists to complete 3000 supervised clinical
practice hours to qualify for a license as a marriage and family therapist.
S.B. will also create a licensing designation for a marriage and family
therapist "associate." 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 413 regulates the practice of marriage and family
practice. 

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 2,  Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., (Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist Act),  by amending Subdivision (6) to define
a "licensed marriage and family therapist associate" as a licensed
individual who provides marriage and family therapy for compensation. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 15(b), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to  prohibit
an unlicensed person from using the title "licensed marriage and family
therapist" or "licensed marriage and family therapist associate." 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 17, Article 4512c-1,V.T.C.S., to require a
license applicant to file a written application and pay an appropriate
application fee.  Requires an eligible person who has an appropriate degree
to have two years work experience which includes 3000 hours of  clinical
practice comprised of at least 1500 hours of direct clinical services to
individuals, couples, or families and at least 750 hours of direct clinical
services to couples or families.  Requires a marriage and family therapist
associate or marriage and family therapist license applicant to pass an
examination determined by the Texas State Board of Examiners of  Marriage
and Family Therapists (board) or be exempted. Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 18, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to set forth the
application review requirements regarding the investigation of each
application and other information submitted.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 20(a), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the
board  to issue marriage and family therapist or marriage and family
therapist associate licenses as appropriate. 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 7.  Emergency clause.