BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1527
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1527 (Negrete McLeod)
As Amended June 6, 2012
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :35-0
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Bill Berryhill, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Allen, Butler, Eng, | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Hagman, Hill, Ma, Smyth | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, |
| | | |Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Solorio, Wagner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Revises requirements for individuals applying for
licensure or registration as a marriage and family therapist
(MFT), a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), an associate
clinical social worker (ACSW), or a licensed professional
clinical counselor (LPCC). Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to accept a
passing score on the MFT, LCSW, or LPCC clinical examination
for a period of seven years from the date the examination was
taken.
2)Requires an MFT applicant who is licensed out-of-state, and
who applies after January 1, 2014, to pass the California law
and ethics examination and a BBS-designated clinical
examination.
3)Allows an MFT, LCSW, and LPCC applicant who is licensed or
registered out-of-state to apply for licensure without taking
the clinical examination if specified conditions are met.
4)Restructures the examination process by requiring an LCSW
applicant, commencing January 1, 2014, to complete specified
training or coursework in California Law and Professional
Ethics in order for the BBS to issue a clinical social worker
SB 1527
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license to an applicant from out-of-state.
5)Requires an ACSW applicant to have completed coursework in
California law and professional ethics for clinical social
workers as specified, commencing January 1, 2014.
6)Requires BBS, if BBS chooses to accept a national examination
or other examinations as specified, to accept a passing score
on the LPCC clinical examination for a period of seven years
from the date the examination was taken, until January 1,
2014.
7)Repeals obsolete provisions of law.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the licensure and regulation of LCSWs, MFTs and
LPCCs by the BBS per the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act,
the Marriage and Family Therapists Act, and the Licensed
Professional Clinical Counselors Act.
2)Requires an applicant for registration or licensure to satisfy
certain training and coursework requirements and authorizes
the BBS to establish guidelines for licensure for out-of-state
applicants.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, negligible state fiscal effect.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, "SB 704 (Negrete
Mcleod), Chapter 387, Statutes of 2011, restructured the
examination process for MFT, LCSW, and LPCC applicants,
effective January 1, 2013. Each ACSW registrant will be
required to take and pass a California law and ethics exam once
the BBS's exam restructuring becomes effective. Because of this
new requirement, this bill proposes adding an education
requirement, beginning January 1, 2013, Ýfor] an individual
seeking ACSW registration or LCSW licensure to complete
coursework in California law and ethics. These requirements
will ensure that an applicant has taken coursework to prepare
for the California Law and Ethics exam. The requirements are
SB 1527
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consistent with current requirements in law for MFT and LPCC
applicants.
"SB 704 also allowed the BBS to consider using national
examinations as the clinical examinations, if they meet
California standards. However, it did not place a limit on Ýhow
long] a passing score on the clinical exam must have been
obtained for LCSW and MFT applicants. The proposed changes will
allow greater license portability for out-of-state applicants
who already hold a current out-of-state license in good
standing."
This bill is a follow-up measure to SB 704 which was the result
of efforts at the BBS to review the LCSW, Licensed Educational
Psychologists (LEP), and MFT examination programs and evaluate
associated issues. According to information provided by the
BBS, "The goal of the examination restructure is to enhance
consumer protection by requiring an applicant, while practicing
as an unlicensed registrant (marriage and family therapy intern,
associate social worker, or clinical counselor intern) to take
and pass an exam on the legal and ethical practice of their
profession. Additionally, the restructuring sets up a framework
for the BBS to smoothly transition to a national testing
system."
Analysis Prepared by : Elissa Silva / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004925