 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
behavioral health; temporary licensure; graduates
Purpose
Requires the State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (Board) to issue a temporary license to a college graduate who is in the process of applying for an associate level license and has completed a course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy or substance abuse counseling.
Background
An applicant for licensure as a social worker, counselor, marriage and family therapist or substance abuse counselor must: 1) submit an application as prescribed by the Board; 2) be at least 21 years old; 3) pay all applicable fees prescribed by the Board; 4) have the physical and mental capability to safely and competently engage in the practice of behavioral health; 5) not have committed any act or engaged in any conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action against a licensee; 6) not have had a professional license or certificate refused, revoked, suspended or restricted for reasons that relate to unprofessional conduct; 7) not have voluntarily surrendered a professional license or certificate while under investigation for conduct that relates to unprofessional conduct; and 8) not have a pending complaint, allegation or investigation relating to unprofessional conduct. If an applicant has any pending complaint, allegation or investigation relating to unprofessional conduct, the Board is required to suspend the application process and may not issue or deny a license to the applicant until the complaint, allegation or investigation is resolved.
Before the Board considers denial of a license based on a deficiency, it must provide the applicant a 35-day notice of the time and place of a meeting at which the applicant may provide, in-person, by counsel or in writing, information and evidence relating to any relevant deficiency, including any evidence that the deficiency has been corrected, monitored or that a mitigating circumstance exists. Depending on the evidence provided, the Board may determine whether to issue a license to the applicant (A.R.S. § 32-3275).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Board to issue a temporary license to a person that has graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and:
a) has completed a course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy or substance abuse counseling; and
b) is in the process of applying for an associate level license.
2. Requires the licensee to be under the qualified supervision of a person that provided direct supervision during the course of study or internship.
3. Specifies that temporary licensure is valid for 90 days after the licensee's graduation date.
4. Allows a licensee to apply any direct client contact work experience obtained during the temporary licensure time frame toward direct client contact work experience required for licensure.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
RA 1/31/24 DP 6-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/29/24 31-28-0-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 15, 2024
MM/DM/slp