COUNSELING; PRAC. & LIC.; MODIFY                                                    H.B. 4325 (H-7):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4325 (Substitute H-7 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Aaron Miller

House Committee:  Health Policy

                             Ways and Means

Senate Committee:  Health Policy and Human Services

CONTENT

The bill would amend Article 15 (Occupations) of the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Modify certain definitions related to the practice of counseling, including "practice of counseling" and "clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures".

-- Modify the circumstances for which the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) could grant a professional counselor license to an individual.

-- Modify the circumstances for which LARA could grant a limited counselor license to an individual.

-- Require LARA and the Michigan Board of Counseling to promulgate rules as necessary or appropriate to supplement the requirements for licensure.

-- Provide the circumstances for which LARA could grant relicensure as a licensed professional counselor or limited licensed counselor to an individual who was applying for relicensure.

-- Modify the list of individuals exempt from certain requirements of the Code if he or she did not hold himself or herself out as a counselor.

-- Specify that Part 181 (Counseling) of the Code would not require new or additional third party reimbursement or mandated worker's compensation benefits for services rendered by an individual licensed under Part 181.

MCL 333.16201 et al.                                               Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The cost of administering the relicensure process authorized by the bill would be covered by existing appropriations and associated applicant fees. The promulgation of rules would be sufficiently funded by existing appropriations.

Date Completed:  10-16-19                                      Fiscal Analyst:  Elizabeth Raczkowski

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.