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H.B. 174 Enrolled

             1     

LICENSING OF VOCATIONAL
             2      REHABILITATION COUNSELORS
             3      2009 GENERAL SESSION
             4      STATE OF UTAH
             5      Chief Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove
             6      Senate Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
             7     
             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
             16      the 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
             22      restrictions 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:

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             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
             41     
             42      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             43          Section 1. Section 58-78-101 is enacted to read:
             44      CHAPTER 78. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS
             45      LICENSING ACT
             46      Part 1. General Provisions
             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

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             58      services:
             59          (a) in public or 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:
             70      Part 2. Board
             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
             74      representing 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
             77      Sections 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
             85      serves as a presiding officer in an adjudicative proceeding concerning that complaint.

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             86          Section 4. Section 58-78-301 is enacted to read:
             87      Part 3. Licensing
             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 (4), 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 to recover the
             100      costs of administering licensing requirements relating to vocational rehabilitation counselors;
             101          (c) be of good moral character;
             102          (d) provide satisfactory evidence of having earned a master's degree in rehabilitation
             103      counseling or a related field;
             104          (e) provide satisfactory evidence of having 4,000 hours of disability related work
             105      experience under the supervision of a licensed vocational rehabilitation counselor, except as
             106      otherwise provided in Subsection (2); and
             107          (f) after January 1, 2011, meet the examination requirement established by rule by the
             108      division in collaboration with the board.
             109          (2) Beginning January 1, 2010, and ending December 31, 2010, an applicant is not
             110      required to verify that the 4,000 hours of work experience required under Subsection (1)(e)
             111      was done under the supervision of a vocational rehabilitation counselor licensed under this
             112      chapter.
             113          (3) An applicant may satisfy the requirement of Subsection (1)(d) if, prior to January

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             114      1, 2011, the applicant provides satisfactory evidence of:
             115          (a) having earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution;
             116          (b) at least ten years experience in vocational rehabilitation counseling or a disability
             117      related field;
             118          (c) currently practicing vocational rehabilitation counseling in Utah; and
             119          (d) holding a national certification as a:
             120          (i) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor;
             121          (ii) Certified Vocational Evaluator; or
             122          (iii) Certified Disability Management Specialist.
             123          (4) The division may issue a license under this chapter to an individual who is
             124      licensed in another state or jurisdiction to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling if the
             125      division finds that the other state or jurisdiction has substantially the same or higher licensure
             126      requirements as this state.
             127          Section 6. Section 58-78-303 is enacted to read:
             128          58-78-303. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal.
             129          (1) The division shall issue each license under this chapter in accordance with an
             130      annual renewal cycle established by rule.
             131          (2) Each license automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the license
             132      unless renewed by the licensee in accordance with Section 58-1-308 .
             133          (3) Each person holding a license under this chapter as a vocational rehabilitation
             134      counselor shall complete in each period of licensure a program of qualifying continuing
             135      professional education in accordance with standards defined by rule.
             136          Section 7. Section 58-78-304 is enacted to read:
             137          58-78-304. Exemption from licensure.
             138          In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307 , the following may
             139      engage in the practice of vocational rehabilitation counseling subject to the stated
             140      circumstances and limitations, without being licensed under this chapter if they do not use the
             141      title of vocational rehabilitation counselor or are not directly represented or held out to the

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             142      public to be legally qualified to engage in the practice of vocational rehabilitation counseling
             143      before the public in this state:
             144          (1) an individual employed or supervised by a licensed vocational rehabilitation
             145      counselor while carrying out specific tasks under the licensee's supervision; and
             146          (2) a priest, rabbi, or minister of the gospel of any religious denomination.
             147          Section 8. Section 58-78-401 is enacted to read:
             148      Part 4. License Denial and Discipline
             149          58-78-401. Grounds for denial of license -- Disciplinary proceedings.
             150          Grounds for the division to refuse to issue a license to an applicant under this chapter,
             151      to refuse to renew the license of a licensee, to revoke, suspend, restrict, or place on probation
             152      the license of a licensee, to issue a public or private reprimand to a licensee, and to issue a
             153      cease and desist order to a licensee shall be in accordance with Section 58-1-401 .
             154          Section 9. Section 58-78-501 is enacted to read:
             155      Part 5. Unlawful and Unprofessional Conduct
             156          58-78-501. Unlawful conduct.
             157          In addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501 , "unlawful conduct" includes using
             158      the title "vocational rehabilitation counselor" or any other title or designation tending to
             159      indicate that the individual is a vocational rehabilitation counselor unless the individual has a
             160      current license as a vocational rehabilitation counselor issued under this chapter.
             161          Section 10. Section 58-78-502 is enacted to read:
             162          58-78-502. Unprofessional conduct.
             163          "Unprofessional conduct" includes, in addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501
             164      and as may be further defined by rule, engaging in an act or practice in a professional capacity
             165      which the licensee is not competent to perform through training or experience.

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