Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
02/06/2024 10:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB126 | |
| HB155 | |
| SB22 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 155 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 126
"An Act relating to the Board of Professional
Counselors; and relating to licensing of associate
counselors."
10:04:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, SPONSOR, introduced HB 126
and appreciated the committee for hearing the bill. He
explained that every year, the University of Alaska (UA)
behavioral health programs graduated a high number of
qualified and knowledgeable students ready to begin careers
in the behavioral health field. The current system lacked
the structure and clarity necessary for individuals to make
a smooth transition from post-graduate student to fully
licensed professional counselor. The obstacles not only
delayed the entry of qualified professionals into the
workforce, but also perpetuated a long-standing waitlist of
Alaskans in dire need of mental health services. By
introducing the role of Associate Counselor, the bill would
create a clear and structured pathway for graduates to
enter the field, receive the necessary supervision, and
progress towards becoming fully licensed. The tiered
approach proposed in the bill would align the state with
the national standards and would demonstrate that the
state's professionals were well-trained as well as
ethically bound and effective in the practice of
counseling. He asked his staff to provide her comments.
10:06:51 AM
RACHAEL GUNN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, relayed
that the legislation was crafted with a dual focus: to
enrich the full licensure of post-graduate counseling
interns who were already serving Alaskans, and to elevate
the support system for interns during the training phase.
There was currently limited guidance and support available
to students who had finished their education in behavioral
health but had not yet completed all necessary requirements
to become fully licensed professional counselors.
Ms. Gunn relayed that HB 126 would introduce the Associate
Counselor program which would be developed by the Board of
Professional Counselors in addition to criteria for
supervisor certification. By establishing clear and
streamlined pathways from completion of the graduate
program in the mental health field to full licensure, the
bill would remove unnecessary barriers that often delayed
the professional development of aspiring counselors. The
bill would uphold the training and supervision requirements
already in place and ensure that every professional
entering the field was well-prepared and qualified. The
bill would also address access to health care, which was
one of the most pressing issues in the health care field.
She added that HB 126 would bring the state in line with
over 65 percent of states that had already adopted a tiered
system for licensure. The alignment would standardize the
approach to mental health care as well as enforce the
state's commitment to adopting best practices that had been
recognized and implemented across the country.
Representative Josephson asked whether the bill defined the
term "Associate Counselor." He asked if it was under the
board's purview to define the term.
Ms. Gunn deferred the question to an invited testifier
representing the board.
10:09:31 AM
RACHEL BUDDIN-YOUNG, MEMBER, ALASKA STATE BOARD FOR
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, EAGLE RIVER (via
teleconference), asked for the question to be repeated.
Representative Josephson repeated his question.
Ms. Buddin-Young responded that there would be pre-
requisites in order to apply to become an associate
counselor. The definition would be in regulation if it was
not in statute and would apply to individuals who were
considered "pre-independent licensed."
Representative Josephson noted the bill called for the
repealing of the supervisory certification statute. He
asked what the reason was for the repeal.
Ms. Buddin-Young responded that currently, there was no
requirement for continuing education or reapplication after
an individual received a supervisory license. The board
would prefer the license to be renewable instead of a "one-
and-done" license in order to be in line with the rest of
the nation. During the preliminary discussions around the
legislation, a recommendation was made to the board that
the requirement be moved to regulation rather than statute.
Co-Chair Foster suggested that Ms. Buddin-Young provide her
invited testimony.
10:11:54 AM
Ms. Buddin-Young stated that the bill would provide
necessary assistance and support for new mental health
counselors. Currently, post-graduate counselors were in a
"no man's land" because there was a lack of structure and
support following graduation. All of the responsibilities
fell on the supervisors of the new counselors. The bill
would provide more support to the supervisor, including
support from the board and a more streamlined process. As a
result, individuals would receive faster mental health care
because intern counselors would have more support during
the process of becoming licensed. The bill would also
increase quality of care because the board would provide
more support and guidance to prospective counselors.
Representative Hannan asked Ms. Buddin-Young what the
academic preparations were for intern counselors. She asked
for more information on the timeline and training
requirements before an individual could become fully
licensed.
Ms. Buddin-Young responded that the requirement for
licensure would not change. The requirements for full
licensure included obtaining a master's degree in a field
related to counseling, passing a national certification
exam, and completing 3,000 hours of work experience under a
qualified supervisor. An individual could not apply for
full licensure before all of the requirements were met. The
associate license proposed by the bill would provide post-
graduate intern counselors assistance and governance during
the required 3,000 hours of work experience. There was
presently no support for counselors in training. The bill
would add to the current requirements and allow for more
structure and guidance.
Representative Hannan asked how long it typically took for
an individual to accumulate the required 3,000 hours.
Ms. Buddin-Young replied that the minimum amount of time
was two years, which was a standard time frame to complete
the hours. Students typically took between two and four
years depending on availability.
Representative Hannan asked if the bill would allow the
associate counselors to bill services through insurance,
Medicare, and Medicaid, or if there would be a need for
separate legislation.
Ms. Buddin-Young replied that insurance billing practices
were different from company to company. There were some
insurance companies that would allow associate counselors
to bill insurance. Some companies required that the
supervisor's license be included in the billing process.
Each agency had its own rules and regulations, but there
would be some insurance companies that would accept billing
from counselors in training.
Representative Hannan asked for clarification that some
insurance companies would not accept billing from associate
counselors.
Ms. Buddin-Young responded in the affirmative. She
reiterated that some insurance agencies would accept it and
others would not.
10:16:24 AM
Representative Josephson asked if there was confidence that
the statute repealing the certification would be largely
replaced. For example, the statute required that a
supervisor would have at least five years of counseling
experience. He asked for clarification that there would be
similar requirements and regulations in lieu of the
statute.
Ms. Buddin-Young responded in the affirmative. She added
that the board would likely change the requirement to five
years post-license experience. Currently, the time period
during which post-graduate counselors in training were
acquiring the 3,000 hours of work experience was counted
towards the five years of counseling experience.
Nationally, the five years of experience were required to
be post-licensure in order to qualify to become a
supervisor. The requirements would be similar apart from
the aforementioned change to a renewable license. She
explained that the requirements would be fine-tuned but not
changed in a significant way.
Representative Josephson noted that the bill repealed
language that would allow supervision to occur via
telephonic or electronic means if an individual was in a
remote location. He asked why it would be prudent to repeal
the language.
Ms. Buddin-Young replied that the board wanted to encourage
individuals to engage supervisors through electronic means;
however, the board wanted to prevent situations in which a
supervisor and trainee would never meet face-to-face. The
goal was to implement safeguards to ensure that individuals
in remote locations were getting the best possible
supervisory experience.
10:19:29 AM
Co-Chair Foster asked the sponsor if he had any closing
comments.
Representative Wright shared that coming back from military
service was difficult, and the bill was personal to him.
The bill would help people receive necessary mental health
care quickly.
Co-Chair Foster set an amendment deadline for Tuesday,
February 13, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
HB 126 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
10:21:06 AM
AT EASE
10:23:25 AM
RECONVENED