SB 93-PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS CHAIR OLSON announced that the final order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 93, "An Act relating to licensed professional counselors; and relating to the unlicensed use of the title 'professional counselor.'" 5:14:13 PM THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff to Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State Legislature, presented SB 93 on behalf of Senator Davis, prime sponsor. He offered paraphrased excerpts from the sponsor statement, which read in entirety as follows [original punctuation provided]: SB 93 amends two sections of the Alaska Statutes concerning professional licenses and insurance as regards Licensed Professional Counselors. Section 1 of the bill amends AS 08.29.0100(a) regarding unlicensed use of the title, "professional counselor" and clarifies words, letters, or abbreviations reasonably confused with the titles of "licensed professional counselor," professional counselor," and "licensed counselor." SB 93 better protects the public from unlicensed individuals misusing these titles and misrepresenting themselves as having the same qualifications of licensed professional counselors who must complete formal educational requirements with a master's degree or higher in this area; pass a license qualifying exam; and complete lengthy supervised practice for not less than two years. Section 2 amends AS 21.36.090(d), the insurance provision that prohibits discrimination against licensed service providers under a group health insurance policy if that service is within the scope of the provider's occupational license. SB 93 adds Licensed professional Counselors to the long list of "providers" in this category. SB 93 will also increase access to needed services for some who formerly were excluded because Licensed Professional Counselors were not included with other health care professionals in the non-discrimination clause of insurance statute, AS21.36.090(d). Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) make up about 1/3 of all mental health professionals in the State of Alaska and represent the same proportion of all counselors working in state funded mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities. Officially established ten years ago, last year the Legislature approved a statutory change to allow LPCs to practice "psychotherapy" and make Title 47 civil commitment evaluations. SB 93 helps ensure third party billing parity for LPCs while it allows them to be included with other health care professionals in this area. SB 93 will better protect and better serve the public and has a zero ($0.00) fiscal note. 5:16:14 PM CHAIR OLSON, after ascertaining that there was no one to testify, closed public testimony. 5:16:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report SB 93 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 93 was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.