Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/12/2002 09:57 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 257(L&C) "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Professional Counselors; and relating to licensing of professional counselors." This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. DEBORAH GRUNDMAN, staff to Senator Stevens, detailed the specifics of SB 257. She informed that the Division of Legislative Budget and Audit report [copy on file] recommends continuation of the Board. She noted that the audit also recommends the merger of the Board of Professional Counselors and the Board of Marital and Family Therapy into a "single oversight and licensing Board." She informed that Division of Legislative Budget and Audit also recommends similar sunset dates for the two boards in order to address the possible merger. Ms. Grundman noted Section 2 of the committee substitute addresses some changes in the educational requirements of professional counselors at the request of the Board and the Department. ANN HENRY, Chair, Board of Professional Counselors, Department of Community and Economic Development informed that Committee that the division supports the extension of the Board. PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, Division of Legislative Audit, notified the Committee that the Audit report did recommend extension of the Board to allow time to merge "two very similar groups." She clarified each group would have their own separate licensing statute but "would be controlled by one Board." She continued this recommendation was "based on effectiveness and economy of scale." She noted the merger "would not result in any substantial impact on costs associated with either of those boards." Ms. Davidson stated all behavioral science boards including Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, Professional Social Workers, and Psychologists "would be up for review at the same time" in the year 2005. Senator Olson inquired if there were any objections to the merger of "these two disciplines." Ms. Davidson reported the Division conducted surveys during the audit period. She informed there were no strong disagreements from professional counselors or from marital and family therapy counselors; however psychologists "strongly objected to being combined with either of those boards." Amendment #1: This amendment would delete "completing the requirement of" and insert "earning the degree required under" on page 2, line 19, Section 2(a)(6). Senator Leman offered a motion to adopt Amendment #1. He explained this amendment allows counselors to begin earning supervised experience as soon as they complete their education" instead of having to wait until they complete their graduate hours of training. Ms. Reardon informed the Committee this amendment is supported by the Board and the Division of Occupational Licensing. She stated this amendment would allow it to be "more feasible" for people who need to work while they are obtaining graduate hours. Senator Olson exampled that the effect of this amendment would be to allow someone to do "moonlighting." Ms. Reardon characterized the language as clarifying "when someone's supervised experience would start counting for licensure." She stated current law requires people to get 3,000 hours of supervised experience, in addition to a 60-hours master degree requirement. She noted this amendment would allow those people who have a Masters degree with less than 60-hours of required degree time to work toward getting that 60-hour requirement. SFIN 02 # 7, Side B 10:47 AM Ms. Reardon continued that with this amendment a person with a Master's degree could count hours as "supervised hours" while they were working toward the 60-hour requirement. There being no objection, Amendment #1 was ADOPTED. Senator Leman offered a motion to report CS SB257 (FIN), 22-LS 1336\J from Committee with the previous fiscal note of $51,400 from the Department of Community and Economic Development. There being no objection, the bill MOVED from Committee.
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