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By:  Zaffirini                                                    S.B. No. 333


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a chemical dependency counselor or counselor intern.              
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 504.001, Occupations Code, is amended by 
adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:
		(3-a)  "Counselor intern" means a person registered 
with the commission in accordance with Section 504.1515.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 504, 
Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D.  LICENSE AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Section 504.1515 to read as follows:
	Sec. 504.1515.  COUNSELOR INTERNS.  (a)  A person seeking a 
license as a chemical dependency counselor shall register with the 
commission as a counselor intern by submitting, in a form 
acceptable to the commission, the following:
		(1)  an application fee and a background investigation 
fee;          
		(2)  a completed, signed, dated, and notarized 
application on a form prescribed by the commission;
		(3)  a recent full-face wallet-sized photograph of the 
applicant;    
		(4)  two sets of fingerprints completed in accordance 
with commission instructions on cards issued by the commission;
		(5)  documentation verifying the applicant 
successfully completed:   
			(A)  270 total hours of approved curricula 
described by Section 504.152(3)(A); and
			(B)  300 hours of approved supervised field work 
practicum described by Section 504.152(3)(C); and
		(6)  documentation verifying the applicant received a 
high school diploma or its equivalent.
	(b)  The commission may 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.
	SECTION 4.  Section 504.152, Occupations Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 504.152.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.  To be eligible for 
a license under this chapter, a person must:
		(1)  be at least 18 years of age;                                             
		(2)  hold an associate degree or a more advanced degree 
[have a high school diploma or its equivalent];
		(3)  have completed:                                                          
			(A)  135 hours, or nine semester hours, specific 
to substance abuse disorders and treatment and an additional 135 
hours, or nine semester hours, specific or related to chemical 
dependency counseling [270 classroom hours of approved curricula];
			(B)  4,000 hours of approved supervised 
experience working with chemically dependent persons; and
			(C)  300 hours of approved supervised field work 
practicum;                
		(4)  provide two letters of reference from chemical 
dependency counselors;  
		(5)  pass a written examination approved by the 
commission;                 
		(6)  submit a case presentation to the test 
administrator;                  
		(7)  pass an oral examination approved by the 
commission;                   
		(8)  be determined by the commission to be worthy of the 
public trust and confidence;
		(9)  successfully complete the chemical dependency 
counselor examination under Section 504.156; and
		(10)  sign a written agreement to comply with the 
standards of ethics approved by the commission.
	SECTION 5.  Subsection (a), Section 504.153, Occupations 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  An applicant is exempt from the requirements of Sections 
504.152(3)(A) and (C) if the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree 
or a more advanced degree in:
		(1)  chemical dependency counseling; or                                       
		(2)  psychology, sociology, or any other related 
program approved by the commission.
	SECTION 6.  Section 504.057, Occupations Code, is repealed.                    
	SECTION 7.  (a)  A person who holds a license as a chemical 
dependency counselor before the effective date of this Act may 
continue to renew that license without complying with the changes 
in law made by this Act.
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, 
the changes in law made by this Act apply only to an initial 
application made to the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
for a chemical dependency counseling license issued as provided by 
Chapter 504, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, on or after 
the effective date of this Act.  An application for a chemical 
dependency counseling license made to the Texas Commission on 
Alcohol and Drug Abuse before the effective date of this Act is 
governed by the law as it existed before that date, and that law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.
	(c)  The changes in law made by this Act do not apply to a 
person who has completed the requirements for intern registration 
and submitted an application for registration as a counselor intern 
as described by Section 504.1515, Occupations Code, as added by 
this Act, with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse before 
the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2004.