ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	House: HHS DP 10-2-0-0 | 3rd Read 36-23-1-0 Senate: HHS DPA/SE 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 19-9-2-0

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HB 2001: behavioral health; temporary licensure; graduates

NOW: behavioral health; graduates; license exemption

Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4

Senate Engrossed

The House Engrossed version of HB 2001 requires the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE) to issue temporary licenses to behavioral health graduates who are in the process of applying for an associate level license.

The Senate adopted a strike-everything amendment that does the following:

Overview

Gives a 90-day licensure exemption to a college graduate who is in the process of applying for an associate level license, possesses a valid fingerprint clearance card and has completed an accredited course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy or addiction counseling.

History

BBHE is authorized to establish and maintain standards of qualifications and performance for licensed behavioral health professionals in the areas of counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work and addiction counseling and to regulate the practice of licensed behavioral health professionals for protection of the public (A.R.S. § 32-3253).

Statute gives licensure exemptions to certain behavioral health professionals which include, but are not limited to: 1) persons employed by the Department of Economic Security (DES) or the Department of Child Safety (DCS) who practice social work, marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling, counseling and case management within the scope of the person's job duties and under the direct supervision of the employer department; 2) students, interns or trainees who are pursuing a course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling or case management in a regionally accredited institution, if the person's activities are performed under qualified supervision and are part of the person's supervised course of study; and 3) persons who are practicing social work, counseling and case management and are employed by an agency licensed by DES or DCS (A.R.S. § 32-3271).

Direct client contact is the performance of therapeutic or clinical functions related to the applicant's professional practice level of psychotherapy that includes diagnosis, assessment and treatment and may include psychoeducation for mental, emotional and behavioral disorders based primarily on verbal or nonverbal communications and intervention with, and in the presence of, one or more clients, including through the use of telehealth (A.R.S. § 32-3251).

Direct supervision means responsibility and oversight for all services provided by a supervisee (A.A.C. R4-6-101).

Provisions

1. Exempts from BBHE licensure, for a period of 90 days, a person who:

a) has completed and graduated from a course of study in either social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy or addiction counseling from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

b) possesses a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Department of Public Safety; and

c) is in the process of applying for an associate level license. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that the applicant's activities must be performed under qualified supervision by a person who provided direct supervision during the course of study or internship.        (Sec. 1)

3. Permits a person to apply any direct client contact work experience obtained during the 90-day period while the person's application is pending toward the person's direct client contact work experience licensure requirements. (Sec. 1)

4. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2-4)

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8.                   HB 2001

9. Initials AG/BG    Page 0 Senate Engrossed

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