By Capelo H.B. No. 2944
77R7034 GJH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the qualifications for a professional counselor
1-3 license.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 503.302(a), Occupations Code, is amended
1-6 to read as follows:
1-7 (a) A person qualifies for a license under this chapter if
1-8 the person:
1-9 (1) is at least 18 years old;
1-10 (2) has a master's or doctoral degree in counseling
1-11 [or a related field];
1-12 (3) has successfully completed a graduate degree at a
1-13 regionally accredited institution of higher education and a planned
1-14 graduate program of 48 graduate semester hours, including 300 clock
1-15 hours of supervised practicum that:
1-16 (A) is primarily counseling in nature; and
1-17 (B) meets the specific academic course content
1-18 and training standards established by the board;
1-19 (4) has completed 36 months or 3,000 hours of
1-20 supervised experience working in a counseling setting that meets
1-21 the requirements established by the board after the completion of
1-22 the graduate program described by Subdivision (3);
1-23 (5) except as provided by Subsection (b), passes the
1-24 license examination required by this chapter;
2-1 (6) submits an application as required by the board,
2-2 accompanied by the required application fee; and
2-3 (7) meets any other requirement prescribed by the
2-4 board.
2-5 SECTION 2. (a) In accordance with Section 311.031(c),
2-6 Government Code, which gives effect to a substantive amendment
2-7 enacted by the same legislature that codifies the amended statute,
2-8 the text of Section 503.302(a), Occupations Code, as set out in
2-9 this Act, gives effect to changes made by Section 3, Chapter 717,
2-10 Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999.
2-11 (b) To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over
2-12 another Act of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001,
2-13 relating to nonsubstantive additions and corrections in enacted
2-14 codes.
2-15 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
2-16 applies only to a license application filed with the Texas State
2-17 Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors on or after that
2-18 date. An application filed before that date is governed by the law
2-19 in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
2-20 the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.