LICENSED PROF. COUNSELORS - S.B. 836 & 837: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bills 836 and 837 (as introduced 10-21-99)
Sponsor: Senator Bev Hammerstrom (Senate Bill 836)
Senator Shirley Johnson (Senate Bill 837)
Committee: Families, Mental Health and Human Services
CONTENT
Senate Bill 836 would amend the Mental Health Code to include licensed professional counselors among the health professionals from whom the executive director of a community mental health (CMH) program must secure a second opinion if an applicant for CMH services has been denied those services and the applicant, his or her guardian if one has been appointed, or his or her parent or parents if the applicant is a minor, requests a second opinion of the CMH executive director. The bill would define "licensed professional counselor" as a person licensed to practice in Michigan under Article 15 of the Public Health Code, which provides for the licensure of various health professionals.
Currently, a CMH executive director must obtain a second opinion from a physician, licensed psychologist, registered professional nurse, master's level social worker, or master's level psychologist.
Senate Bill 837 would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to change the citation to a subsection of the Mental Health Code in a reference to responsibilities of a licensed mental health professional. The Mental Health Code subsection would be changed by the inclusion in Senate Bill 836 of a definition of "licensed professional counselor".
(The Foster Care and Adoption Services Act provides that, if a child under the care of a supervising agency has suffered sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, or mental illness, the supervising agency must have an experienced and licensed mental health professional as defined in the Mental Health Code, or a social worker certified under the Occupational Code, who is trained in children's psychological assessments perform an assessment or psychological evaluation of the child.)
MCL 330.1100b & 330.1705 (S.B. 836) - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
722.954c (S.B. 837)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: S. Angelotti
- C. ColeS9900\s836sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.