SRC-DBM C.S.S.B. 413 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 413
76R6150 JMM-DBy: Madla
Health Services
2/24/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)
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. C.S.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.
C.S.S.B. 413 will also create a licensing designation for a marriage and
family therapist "associate."
PURPOSE
As proposed, C.S.S.B. 413 regulates the practice of marriage and family
practice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Marriage and Family Therapists in SECTION 7 (Section 22A(b), Article
4512c-1, V.T.C.S.) of this bill.
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 an individual who
provides marriage and family therapy for compensation under the supervision
of a board-approved supervisor.
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. Provides that a person is eligible to apply for a license
as a licensed marriage and family therapist associate if the person has
completed a graduate internship in marriage and family therapy, or an
equivalent internship, as approved by the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Marriage and Family Therapists(board) and has passed an examination
determined by the board. Requires an applicant for a license as a licensed
marriage and family therapist associate under Subsection (b) of this
section to file an application no later than the 90th day before the date
of the examination that the applicant intends to take. Provides that an
applicant is eligible to apply for a license as a licensed marriage and
family therapist if the person holds a license as a marriage and family
therapist associate; meets the requirements of Subsections (b) (5)-(9) of
this section; and after receipt of a degree described by Subsection (b) (4)
of this section, has completed two years of work experience in marriage and
family therapist services that includes at least 3000 hours of clinical
practice comprised of at least 1,500 hours of direct clinical services and
at least 750 hours of direct clinical services to couples or families.
Requires the clinical hours required under Subsection (d) of this section
to be supervised in a manner acceptable to the board, including at least
200 hours of supervision of the provision of direct clinical services by
the applicant of which at least 100 hours must be supervised on an
individual basis. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 18, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the
board to investigate each application and other evidence submitted.
Requires the board to notify each applicant whether the application has bee
accepted or rejected, except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section,
not later than the 90th day after, rather than the 30th day before, the
date of receipt of a completed application for a license as a licensed
marriage and family therapist associate. Provides that an applicant for a
license as a licensed marriage and family therapist associate is eligible
to take the examination if the applicant: is enrolled in a graduate
internship described by Section 17(b) (2) of this Act and provides proof to
the board that the applicant is a student in good standing in an
educational program described by Section 17(b) (4) of this Act; or has
completed the internship described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection
but has not graduated from an educational program described by Section
17(b) (4) of this Act. Deletes text regarding an eligible person's work
experience. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 19(a), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require
each applicant for a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist
associate under this Act to pass an examination prescribed by the board.
SECTION 6. 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 7. Amends, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., by adding Section 22A as
follows:
Sec. 22A. WAIVER OF EXAMINATION FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS. Authorizes the
board to waive the requirement that an applicant for a marriage and family
therapist license must pass the examination required by Section 19 of this
Act. Sets forth the conditions which would waive the need to pass the
examination. Authorizes the board to adopt rules necessary to administer
this section.
SECTION 8.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 9.Emergency clause.
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES
SECTION 1.
Amends Section 2, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., by amending Subdivision (6),
to define a "licensed marriage and family therapist associate" as an
individual who provides marriage and family therapy for compensation under
the supervision of a board-approved supervisor, rather than under the
supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist.
SECTION 3.
Amends Section 17, Article 4512c-1,V.T.C.S., to provide that a person is
eligible to apply for a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist
associate if the person has completed a graduate internship in marriage and
family therapy, or an equivalent internship, as approved by the board, and
has passed an examination determined by the board. Requires an applicant
for a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist associate under
Subsection (b) of this section to file an application no later than the
90th day before the date of the examination that the applicant intends to
take. Provides that an applicant is eligible to apply for a license as a
licensed marriage and family therapist if the person holds a license as a
marriage and family therapist associate; meets the requirements of
Subsections (b) (5)-(9) of this section; and after receipt of a degree
described by Subsection (b) (4) of this section, has completed two years of
work experience in marriage and family therapist services that includes at
least 3,000 hours of clinical practice comprised of at least 1,500 hours of
direct clinical services and at least 750 hours of direct clinical services
to couples or families. Requires the clinical hours required under
Subsection (d) of this section to be supervised in a manner acceptable to
the board, including at least 200 hours of supervision of the provision of
direct clinical services by the applicant of which at least 100 hours must
be supervised on an individual basis. Deletes text regarding an eligible
person's work experience requirements. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 4.
Amends Section 18, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the board to
investigate each application and other evidence submitted. Requires the
board to notify each applicant whether the application has bee accepted or
rejected, except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, not later
than the 90th day after the date of receipt of a completed application for
a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist associate. Provides
that an applicant for a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist
associate is eligible to take the examination if the applicant: is
enrolled in a graduate internship described by Section 17(b) (2) of this
Act and provides proof to the board that the applicant is a student in good
standing in an educational program described by Section 17(b) (4) of this
Act; or has completed the internship described by Subdivision (1) of this
subsection but has not graduated from an educational program described by
Section 17(b) (4) of this Act. Adds text regarding the board's
investigative requirements. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 5.
Amends Section 19(a), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act, Article
4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require each applicant for a license as a licensed
marriage and family therapist associate under this Act to pass an
examination prescribed by the board.
SECTION 6.
Redesignated from 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 7.
Amends Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., by adding Section 22A as follows:
Sec. 22A. WAIVER OF EXAMINATION FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS. Authorizes the
board to waive the requirement that an applicant for a marriage and family
therapist license must pass the examination required by Section 19 of this
Act. Sets forth the conditions which would waive the need to pass the
examination. Authorizes the board to adopt rules necessary to administer
this section.
SECTION 8.
Redesignated from SECTION 6.
SECTION 9.
Redesignated from SECTION 7.