S.B. 333 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 333
By: Zaffirini
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, Texas law sets the educational requirement to become a Licensed
Chemical Dependency 
Counselor (LCDC) at a high school degree, or its equivalent, and there is
little structure governing the registration of interns. Strengthened
licensure requirements and rules governing interns will allow Texas to
benefit from substance abuse counselors who are highly trained. S.B. 333
increases the educational requirements for licensure as an LCDC by
requiring an associate degree and course work that pertains to substance
abuse. S.B. 333 also grants the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
authority over registering interns. The new requirements only apply to new
applicants. 


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. 

ANALYSIS
Amends Section 504.001, Occupations Code, by adding Subdivision (3-a),to
define "counselor intern." 

Amends the heading to Chapter 504, Subchapter D, Occupations Code, to read
as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. LICENSE AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 

Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Occupations Code, by adding Section
504.1515 to require a person seeking a license as a chemical dependancy
counselor to register with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
(TCADA) as a counselor intern by submitting, in a form acceptable to
TCADA, certain items.  TCADA is authorized to obtain criminal history
record information relating to a counselor intern or an applicant for
registration as a counselor intern from the Department of Public Safety
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Amends Section 504.152, Occupations Code, to increase the licensing
requirements from a high school diploma or its equivalent to an associate
or more advanced degree and to specify the completion of a certain number
of hours in certain subjects. Deletes the requirement for 270 classroom
hours of approved curricula. 

Amends Section 504.153(a), Occupations Code, to include in the criteria
for exemption from the requirement to have a commission approved course
load, a degree beyond a baccalaureate degree. 

Repealer: Section 504.057, Occupations Code (Criminal History Information
for Counselor Interns.) 

Authorizes a chemical dependency counselor licensed before this Act's
effective date to renew that license without complying with the changes
made by this Act.  Provides that the changes in this Act only apply to an
initial license application, except as provided by Subsection (c) of this
section. Continues the effectiveness of previously existing law for
license applications made before this Act's effective date.  Makes
application of this Act prospective. 

EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2004.