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H.B. 174
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill provides for the licensing of vocational rehabilitation counselors by the
11 Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . enacts the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Licensing Act;
15 . provides definitions regarding a licensed vocational rehabilitation counselor and the
16 practice of providing vocational rehabilitation services;
17 . creates the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Licensing Board and provides for
18 its duties and responsibilities;
19 . provides for licensing qualifications, for licensure by credential, for the term of the
20 license and its renewal, and for exemptions from licensure;
21 . provides grounds for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license or restrictions
22 placed on a license issued under the act; and
23 . defines unlawful and unprofessional conduct as related to licensed vocational
24 rehabilitation counselors.
25 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
26 None
27 Other Special Clauses:
28 None
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 ENACTS:
31 58-78-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 58-78-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 58-78-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 58-78-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 58-78-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 58-78-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 58-78-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 58-78-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39 58-78-501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40 58-78-502, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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42 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43 Section 1. Section 58-78-101 is enacted to read:
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47 58-78-101. Title.
48 This chapter is known as the "Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Licensing Act."
49 Section 2. Section 58-78-102 is enacted to read:
50 58-78-102. Definitions.
51 In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
52 (1) "Board" means the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Licensing Board created
53 in Section 58-78-201 .
54 (2) "Licensed vocational rehabilitation counselor" means an individual licensed under
55 this chapter who is engaged in the practice of providing vocational rehabilitation services.
56 (3) "Practice of providing vocational rehabilitation services" means rendering or
57 offering to an individual, group, organization, or the general public vocational rehabilitation
58 services:
59 (a) in private practice;
60 (b) for compensation; and
61 (c) involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the vocational
62 rehabilitation counseling profession, which include:
63 (i) vocational assessment;
64 (ii) vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance;
65 (iii) vocational and other training services;
66 (iv) self-employment plans;
67 (v) job analysis; and
68 (vi) job placement.
69 Section 3. Section 58-78-201 is enacted to read:
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71 58-78-201. Board.
72 (1) There is created the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Licensing Board
73 consisting of four licensed vocational rehabilitation counselors and one individual representing
74 the general public.
75 (2) The board shall be appointed and serve in accordance with Section 58-1-201 .
76 (3) (a) The duties and responsibilities of the board shall be in accordance with Sections
77 58-1-202 and 58-1-203 .
78 (b) The board may also designate one of its members on a rotating or permanent basis
79 to:
80 (i) assist the division in reviewing complaints concerning unlawful or unprofessional
81 conduct of a licensee; and
82 (ii) advise the division in its investigation of these complaints.
83 (4) A board member who has, under Subsection (3), reviewed a complaint or advised
84 in its investigation may be disqualified from participating with the board when the board serves
85 as a presiding officer in an adjudicative proceeding concerning that complaint.
86 Section 4. Section 58-78-301 is enacted to read:
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88 58-78-301. License required.
89 (1) Beginning January 1, 2010, and except as provided in Sections 58-1-307 and
90 58-78-304 , a license is required to engage in the practice of vocational rehabilitation
91 counseling.
92 (2) The division shall issue to an individual who qualifies under this chapter a license
93 to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling.
94 Section 5. Section 58-78-302 is enacted to read:
95 58-78-302. Qualifications for licensure -- Licensure by credential.
96 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), an applicant for licensure as a vocational
97 rehabilitation counselor under this chapter shall:
98 (a) submit an application in a form as prescribed by the division;
99 (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-303 ;
100 (c) be of good moral character;
101 (d) provide satisfactory evidence of having earned a master's degree in rehabilitation
102 counseling or a related field and 4,000 hours of work experience under the supervision of a
103 licensed vocational rehabilitation counselor; and
104 (e) after January 1, 2011, meet the examination requirement established by rule by the
105 division in collaboration with the board.
106 (2) The division may issue a license under this chapter to an individual who is licensed
107 in another state or jurisdiction to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling if the division
108 finds that the other state or jurisdiction has substantially the same or higher licensure
109 requirements as this state.
110 Section 6. Section 58-78-303 is enacted to read:
111 58-78-303. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal.
112 (1) The division shall issue each license under this chapter in accordance with a
113 two-year renewal cycle established by rule.
114 (2) The division may extend or shorten a renewal cycle by as much as one year to
115 maintain an established renewal cycle or to change an established renewal cycle.
116 (3) Each license automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the license
117 unless renewed by the licensee in accordance with Section 58-1-308 .
118 Section 7. Section 58-78-304 is enacted to read:
119 58-78-304. Exemption from licensure.
120 In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307 , the following may
121 engage in the practice of vocational rehabilitation counseling subject to the stated
122 circumstances and limitations, without being licensed under this chapter if they do not use the
123 title of vocational rehabilitation counselor or are not directly represented or held out to the
124 public to be legally qualified to engage in the practice of vocational rehabilitation counseling
125 before the public in this state:
126 (1) an individual employed or supervised by a licensed vocational rehabilitation
127 counselor while carrying out specific tasks under the licensee's supervision; and
128 (2) a priest, rabbi, or minister of the gospel of any religious denomination.
129 Section 8. Section 58-78-401 is enacted to read:
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131 58-78-401. Grounds for denial of license -- Disciplinary proceedings.
132 Grounds for the division to refuse to issue a license to an applicant under this chapter,
133 to refuse to renew the license of a licensee, to revoke, suspend, restrict, or place on probation
134 the license of a licensee, to issue a public or private reprimand to a licensee, and to issue a
135 cease and desist order to a licensee shall be in accordance with Section 58-1-401 .
136 Section 9. Section 58-78-501 is enacted to read:
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138 58-78-501. Unlawful conduct.
139 In addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501 , "unlawful conduct" includes using the
140 title "vocational rehabilitation counselor" or any other title or designation tending to indicate
141 that the individual is a vocational rehabilitation counselor unless the individual has a current
142 license as a vocational rehabilitation counselor issued under this chapter.
143 Section 10. Section 58-78-502 is enacted to read:
144 58-78-502. Unprofessional conduct.
145 "Unprofessional conduct" includes, in addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501 and
146 as may be further defined by rule, engaging in an act or practice in a professional capacity
147 which the licensee is not competent to perform through training or experience.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-18-09 3:06 PM