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H.B. 244

             1     

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ACT

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Edward H. Redd

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends the definition of the term "Mental Health Therapist" under the Mental
             11      Health Professional Practice Act and the Psychologist Licensing Act and clarifies the
             12      educational requirements of an applicant for a license as a substance use disorder
             13      counselor.
             14      Highlighted Provisions:
             15          This bill:
             16          .    defines terms;
             17          .    amends the definition of "Mental Health Therapist":
             18              .    in the Mental Health Professional Practice Act and the Psychologist Licensing
             19      Act to include those working as an "advanced practice registered nurse intern,
             20      specializing in psychiatric mental health nursing"; and
             21              .    under the Psychologist Licensing Act to make it consistent with the definition in
             22      the Mental Health Professional Practice Act;
             23          .    grants rulemaking authority to the Division of Occupational and Professional
             24      Licensing to determine whether an applicant for a license as a substance use
             25      disorder counselor has met educational requirements; and
             26          .    makes technical changes.
             27      Money Appropriated in this Bill:


             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          None
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          58-60-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 179
             34          58-60-506, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 179
             35          58-61-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 117
             36     
             37      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             38          Section 1. Section 58-60-102 is amended to read:
             39           58-60-102. Definitions.
             40          In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             41          (1) "Client" or "patient" means an individual who consults or is examined or
             42      interviewed by an individual licensed under this chapter who is acting in the individual's
             43      professional capacity.
             44          (2) "Confidential communication" means information obtained by an individual
             45      licensed under this chapter, including information obtained by the individual's examination of
             46      the client or patient, which is:
             47          (a) (i) transmitted between the client or patient and an individual licensed under this
             48      chapter in the course of that relationship; or
             49          (ii) transmitted among the client or patient, an individual licensed under this chapter,
             50      and individuals who are participating in the diagnosis or treatment under the direction of an
             51      individual licensed under this chapter, including members of the client's or patient's family; and
             52          (b) made in confidence, for the diagnosis or treatment of the client or patient by the
             53      individual licensed under this chapter, and by a means not intended to be disclosed to third
             54      persons other than those individuals:
             55          (i) present to further the interest of the client or patient in the consultation,
             56      examination, or interview;
             57          (ii) reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communications; or
             58          (iii) participating in the diagnosis and treatment of the client or patient under the


             59      direction of the mental health therapist.
             60          (3) "Hypnosis" means, when referring to individuals exempted from licensure under
             61      this chapter, a process by which an individual induces or assists another individual into a
             62      hypnotic state without the use of drugs or other substances and for the purpose of increasing
             63      motivation or to assist the individual to alter lifestyles or habits.
             64          (4) "Individual" means a natural person.
             65          (5) "Mental health therapist" means an individual licensed under this title as:
             66          (a) a physician and surgeon, or osteopathic physician engaged in the practice of mental
             67      health therapy;
             68          (b) an advanced practice registered nurse, specializing in psychiatric mental health
             69      nursing;
             70          (c) an advanced practice registered nurse intern, specializing in psychiatric mental
             71      health nursing;
             72          [(c)] (d) a psychologist qualified to engage in the practice of mental health therapy;
             73          [(d)] (e) a certified psychology resident qualifying to engage in the practice of mental
             74      health therapy;
             75          [(e)] (f) a clinical social worker;
             76          [(f)] (g) a certified social worker;
             77          [(g)] (h) a marriage and family therapist;
             78          [(h)] (i) an associate marriage and family therapist;
             79          [(i)] (j) a clinical mental health counselor; or
             80          [(j)] (k) an associate clinical mental health counselor.
             81          (6) "Mental illness" means a mental or emotional condition defined in an approved
             82      diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders generally recognized in the professions of
             83      mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5).
             84          (7) "Practice of mental health therapy" means treatment or prevention of mental illness,
             85      including:
             86          (a) conducting a professional evaluation of an individual's condition of mental health,
             87      mental illness, or emotional disorder consistent with standards generally recognized in the
             88      professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5);
             89          (b) establishing a diagnosis in accordance with established written standards generally


             90      recognized in the professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5);
             91          (c) prescribing a plan for the prevention or treatment of a condition of mental illness or
             92      emotional disorder; and
             93          (d) engaging in the conduct of professional intervention, including psychotherapy by
             94      the application of established methods and procedures generally recognized in the professions
             95      of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (5).
             96          (8) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-60-109 .
             97          (9) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-60-110 , and
             98      may be further defined by division rule.
             99          Section 2. Section 58-60-506 is amended to read:
             100           58-60-506. Qualifications for licensure on and after July 1, 2012.
             101          (1) An applicant for licensure under this part on and after July 1, 2012, must meet the
             102      following qualifications:
             103          (a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
             104          (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504 ;
             105          (c) be of good moral character;
             106          (d) satisfy the requirements of Subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) respectively; and
             107          (e) except for licensure as a certified substance use disorder counselor intern and a
             108      certified advanced substance use disorder counselor intern, satisfy the examination requirement
             109      established by division rule under Section 58-1-203 .
             110          (2) In accordance with division rules, an applicant for licensure as an advanced
             111      substance use disorder counselor shall produce:
             112          (a) certified transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education that:
             113          (i) meet division standards;
             114          (ii) verify the satisfactory completion of a baccalaureate or graduate degree; and
             115          (iii) verify the completion of prerequisite courses established by division rules;
             116          (b) documentation of the applicant's completion of a substance use disorder education
             117      program that includes:
             118          (i) at least 300 hours of substance use disorder related education, of which 200 hours
             119      may have been obtained while qualifying for a substance use disorder counselor license;
             120          (ii) a supervised practicum of at least 350 hours, of which 200 hours may have been


             121      obtained while qualifying for a substance use disorder counselor license; and
             122          (c) documentation of the applicant's completion of at least 4,000 hours of supervised
             123      experience in substance use disorder treatment, of which 2,000 hours may have been obtained
             124      while qualifying for a substance use disorder counselor license, that:
             125          (i) meets division standards; and
             126          (ii) is performed within a four-year period after the applicant's completion of the
             127      substance use disorder education program described in Subsection (2)(b), unless, as determined
             128      by the division after consultation with the board, the time for performance is extended due to
             129      an extenuating circumstance.
             130          (3) An applicant for licensure as a certified advanced substance use disorder counselor
             131      shall meet the requirements in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
             132          (4) (a) An applicant for licensure as a certified advanced substance use disorder
             133      counselor intern shall meet the requirements in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
             134          (b) A certified advanced substance use disorder counselor intern license expires at the
             135      earlier of:
             136          (i) the licensee passing the examination required for licensure as a certified advanced
             137      substance use disorder counselor; or
             138          (ii) six months after the certified advanced substance use disorder counselor intern
             139      license is issued.
             140          (5) In accordance with division rules, an applicant for licensure as a substance use
             141      disorder counselor shall produce:
             142          (a) certified transcripts from an accredited institution that:
             143          (i) meet division standards;
             144          (ii) verify satisfactory completion of an associate's degree or equivalent [degree] as
             145      defined by the division in rule; and
             146          (iii) verify the completion of prerequisite courses established by division rules;
             147          (b) documentation of the applicant's completion of a substance use disorder education
             148      program that includes:
             149          (i) completion of at least 200 hours of substance use disorder related education; and
             150          (ii) completion of a supervised practicum of at least 200 hours; and
             151          (c) documentation of the applicant's completion of at least 2,000 hours of supervised


             152      experience in substance use disorder treatment that:
             153          (i) meets division standards; and
             154          (ii) is performed within a two-year period after the applicant's completion of the
             155      substance use disorder education program described in Subsection (5)(b), unless, as determined
             156      by the division after consultation with the board, the time for performance is extended due to
             157      an extenuating circumstance.
             158          (6) An applicant for licensure as a certified substance use disorder counselor shall meet
             159      the requirements of Subsections (5)(a) and (b).
             160          (7) (a) An applicant for licensure as a certified substance use disorder counselor intern
             161      shall meet the requirements of Subsections (5)(a) and (b).
             162          (b) A certified substance use disorder counselor intern license expires at the earlier of:
             163          (i) the licensee passing the examination required for licensure as a certified substance
             164      use disorder counselor; or
             165          (ii) six months after the certified substance use disorder counselor intern license is
             166      issued.
             167          Section 3. Section 58-61-102 is amended to read:
             168           58-61-102. Definitions.
             169          In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             170          (1) "Board" means the Psychologist Licensing Board created in Section 58-61-201 .
             171          (2) "Client" or "patient" means an individual who consults or is examined or
             172      interviewed by a psychologist acting in his professional capacity.
             173          (3) "Confidential communication" means information, including information obtained
             174      by the psychologist's examination of the client or patient, which is:
             175          (a) (i) transmitted between the client or patient and a psychologist in the course of that
             176      relationship; or
             177          (ii) transmitted among the client or patient, the psychologist, and individuals who are
             178      participating in the diagnosis or treatment under the direction of the psychologist, including
             179      members of the client's or patient's family; and
             180          (b) made in confidence, for the diagnosis or treatment of the client or patient by the
             181      psychologist, and by a means not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than those
             182      individuals:


             183          (i) present to further the interest of the client or patient in the consultation,
             184      examination, or interview;
             185          (ii) reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communications; or
             186          (iii) participating in the diagnosis and treatment of the client or patient under the
             187      direction of the psychologist.
             188          (4) "Hypnosis" means, regarding individuals exempted from licensure under this
             189      chapter, a process by which one individual induces or assists another individual into a hypnotic
             190      state without the use of drugs or other substances and for the purpose of increasing motivation
             191      or to assist the individual to alter lifestyles or habits.
             192          (5) "Individual" means a natural person.
             193          (6) "Mental health therapist" means an individual licensed under this title as a:
             194          (a) physician and surgeon, or osteopathic physician engaged in the practice of mental
             195      health therapy;
             196          (b) [registered psychiatric mental health nurse specialist;] an advanced practice
             197      registered nurse, specializing in psychiatric mental health nursing;
             198          (c) an advanced practice registered nurse intern, specializing in psychiatric mental
             199      health nursing;
             200          [(c)] (d) psychologist qualified to engage in the practice of mental health therapy;
             201          (e) a certified psychology resident qualifying to engage in the practice of mental health
             202      therapy;
             203          [(d)] (f) clinical social worker;
             204          [(e)] (g) certified social worker;
             205          [(f)] (h) marriage and family therapist; [or]
             206          (i) an associate marriage and family therapist;    
             207          [(g) professional] (j) a clinical mental health counselor[.]; or
             208          (k) an associate clinical mental health counselor.
             209          (7) "Mental illness" means a mental or emotional condition defined in an approved
             210      diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders generally recognized in the professions of
             211      mental health therapy listed under Subsection (6).
             212          (8) "Practice of mental health therapy" means the treatment or prevention of mental
             213      illness, including:


             214          (a) conducting a professional evaluation of an individual's condition of mental health,
             215      mental illness, or emotional disorder;
             216          (b) establishing a diagnosis in accordance with established written standards generally
             217      recognized in the professions of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (6);
             218          (c) prescribing a plan for the prevention or treatment of a condition of mental illness or
             219      emotional disorder; and
             220          (d) engaging in the conduct of professional intervention, including psychotherapy by
             221      the application of established methods and procedures generally recognized in the professions
             222      of mental health therapy listed under Subsection (6).
             223          (9) (a) "Practice of psychology" includes:
             224          (i) the practice of mental health therapy by means of observation, description,
             225      evaluation, interpretation, intervention, and treatment to effect modification of human behavior
             226      by the application of generally recognized professional psychological principles, methods, and
             227      procedures for the purpose of preventing, treating, or eliminating mental or emotional illness or
             228      dysfunction, the symptoms of any of these, or maladaptive behavior;
             229          (ii) the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, or modification of human
             230      behavior by the application of generally recognized professional principles, methods, or
             231      procedures requiring the education, training, and clinical experience of a psychologist, for the
             232      purpose of assessing, diagnosing, preventing, or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or
             233      undesired behavior and of enhancing interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment,
             234      personal effectiveness, behavioral health, and mental health;
             235          (iii) psychological testing and the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics
             236      such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological
             237      functioning;
             238          (iv) counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, hypnosis,
             239      and behavior analysis and therapy;
             240          (v) diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders of disability, alcoholism
             241      and substance abuse, disorders of habit or conduct, and the psychological aspects of physical
             242      illness, accident, injury, or disability; and
             243          (vi) psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation, and consultation.
             244          (b) An individual practicing psychology may provide services to individuals, couples,


             245      families, groups of individuals, members of the public, and individuals or groups within
             246      organizations or institutions.
             247          (10) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-61-501 .
             248          (11) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-61-502 , and
             249      may be further defined by division rule.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-10-12 12:09 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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