Amended in Assembly June 19, 2013

Amended in Assembly June 14, 2013

Amended in Senate April 23, 2013

Senate BillNo. 821


Introduced by Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development (Senators Lieu (Chair), Block, Corbett, Emmerson, Galgiani, Hernandez, Hill, Padilla, Wyland, and Yee)

March 20, 2013


An act to amend Sections 1613, 1915, 1926.2, 3024, 3025, 3040, 3041.2, 3051, 3057.5, 3077, 3093, 3098, 3103, 3106, 3107, 3109, 3163, 4053, 4107, 4980.36, 4980.397, 4980.398, 4980.399, 4980.40, 4980.43, 4980.50, 4980.72, 4984.01, 4984.7, 4984.72, 4989.68, 4992.05, 4992.07, 4992.09, 4992.1, 4996.1, 4996.3, 4996.4, 4996.9, 4996.17,4996.18, 4996.23, 4996.28, 4999.20, 4999.33, 4999.45, 4999.46, 4999.47, 4999.50, 4999.52, 4999.53, 4999.55, 4999.60, 4999.64, and 4999.100 of, and to add Section 4021.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to healing arts.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 821, as amended, Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development. Healing arts.

(1) Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, establishes the Dental Board of California, which was formerly known as the Board of Dental Examiners of California. Existing law requires the board to have and use a seal bearing its name. Existing law creates, within the jurisdiction of the board, a Dental Hygiene Committee of California, that is responsible for regulation of registered dental hygienists, registered dental hygienists in alternative practice, and registered dental hygienists in extended functions.

This bill would amend those provisions to remove an obsolete reference to the former board and to make other technical changes.

(2) Existing law, the Optometry Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of optometrists by the State Board of Optometry. That act refers to the authorization to practice optometry issued by the board as a certificate of registration.

This bill would instead refer to that authorization issued by the board as an optometrist license and would make other technical and conforming changes.

(3) Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, governs the business and practice of pharmacy in this state and establishes the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law prohibits the board from issuing more than one site license to a single premises except to issue a veterinary food-animal drug retailer license to a wholesaler or to issue a license for compound sterile injectable drugs to a pharmacy.

This bill would additionally authorize the board to issue more than one site license to a single premises to issue a centralized hospital packaging license. The bill would also establish a definition for the term “correctional pharmacy.”

Existing law authorizes the board to issue a license as a designated representative to provide supervision in a wholesaler or veterinary food-animal drug retailer. Existing law requires an individual to meet specified requirements to obtain and maintain a designated representative license, including a minimum of one year of paid work experience related to the distribution or dispensing of dangerous drugs or devices or meet certain prerequisites.

The bill would require the one year of paid work experience to obtain a designated representative license to be in a licensed pharmacy, or with a drug wholesaler, drug distributor, or drug manufacturer. The bill would also make related, technical changes.

(4) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of marriage and family therapists, licensed educational psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional clinical counselors by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Existing law makes various changes to the licensing and associated eligibility and examination requirements for marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional clinical counselors, effective January 1, 2014.

This bill would delay the implementation of these and other related changes until January 1, 2016.

Existing law requires all persons applying for marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional clinical counselor licensure examinations to have specified hours of experience, not including experience gained by interns or trainees as independent contractors.

This bill would specify that experience shall not be gained by interns or trainees or associates for work performed as an independent contractor or reported on an IRS Form 1099.

Existing law also authorizes the board to issue a license to a person who, at the time of submitting an application for a license pursuant to this chapter, holds a valid license in good standing issued by a board of marriage counselor examiners, board of marriage and family therapists, or corresponding authority, of any state or country if certain conditions are met, considering hours of experience obtained outside of California during the 6-year period immediately preceding the date the applicant initially obtained the license.

This bill would instead require time actively licensed as a marriage and family therapist to be accepted at a rate of 100 hours per month up to a maximum of 1,200 hours if the applicant has fewer than 3,000 hours of qualifying supervised experience.

Existing law establishes a $75 delinquent renewal fee for a licensed educational psychologist and forbegin insert licensedend insert clinical social workers.

This bill would instead specify that $75 is the maximum delinquent renewal fee.

Existing law requires an applicant for registration as an associate clinical social worker to meet specified requirements. Existing law also defines the application of social work principles and methods.

This bill would additionally require that all applicants and registrants be at all times under the supervision of a supervisor responsible for ensuring that the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is consistent with the training and experience of the person being supervised, and who is responsible to the board for compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the practice of clinical social work. The bill would also specify that the practice of clinical social work includes the use, application, and integration of the coursework and experience required.

Existing law requires a licensed professional clinical counselor, to qualify for a clinical examination for licensure, to complete clinical mental health experience, as specified, including not more than 250 hours of experience providing counseling or crisis counseling on the telephone.

This bill instead would require not more than 375 hours of experience providing personal psychotherapy, crisis counseling, or other counseling services via telehealth.

(5) The bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P4    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 1613 of the Business and Professions
2Code
is amended to read:

3

1613.  

The board shall have and use a seal bearing the name
4“Dental Board of California.”

5

SEC. 2.  

Section 1915 of the Business and Professions Code is
6amended to read:

7

1915.  

No person other than a registered dental hygienist,
8registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or registered
9dental hygienist in extended functions or a licensed dentist may
10engage in the practice of dental hygiene or perform dental hygiene
11procedures on patients, including, but not limited to, supragingival
12and subgingival scaling, dental hygiene assessment, and treatment
13planning, except for the following persons:

14(a) A student enrolled in a dental or a dental hygiene school
15who is performing procedures as part of the regular curriculum of
16that program under the supervision of the faculty of that program.

17(b) A dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the
18dental board in performing the following procedures:

19(1) Applying nonaerosol and noncaustic topical agents.

20(2) Applying topical fluoride.

21(3) Taking impressions for bleaching trays.

22(c) A registered dental assistant acting in accordance with the
23rules of the dental board in performing the following procedures:

24(1) Polishing the coronal surfaces of teeth.

25(2) Applying bleaching agents.

26(3) Activating bleaching agents with a nonlaser light-curing
27device.

28(4) Applying pit and fissure sealants.

P5    1(d) A registered dental assistant in extended functions acting in
2accordance with the rules of the dental board in applying pit and
3fissure sealants.

4(e) A registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in
5alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended
6functions licensed in another jurisdiction, performing a clinical
7demonstration for educational purposes.

8

SEC. 3.  

Section 1926.2 of the Business and Professions Code
9 is amended to read:

10

1926.2.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
11registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may operate one
12mobile dental hygiene clinic registered as a dental hygiene office
13or facility. The owner or operator of the mobile dental hygiene
14clinic or unit shall be registered and operated in accordance with
15regulations established by the committee, which regulations shall
16not be designed to prevent or lessen competition in service areas,
17and shall pay the fees described in Section 1944.

18(b) A mobile service unit, as defined in subdivision (b) of
19Section 1765.105 of the Health and Safety Code, and a mobile
20unit operated by an entity that is exempt from licensure pursuant
21to subdivision (b), (c), or (h) of Section 1206 of the Health and
22Safety Code, are exempt from this article. Notwithstanding this
23exemption, the owner or operator of the mobile unit shall notify
24the committee within 60 days of the date on which dental hygiene
25services are first delivered in the mobile unit, or the date on which
26the mobile unit’s application pursuant to Section 1765.130 of the
27Health and Safety Code is approved, whichever is earlier.

28(c) A licensee practicing in a mobile unit described in
29subdivision (b) is not subject to subdivision (a) as to that mobile
30unit.

31

SEC. 4.  

Section 3024 of the Business and Professions Code is
32amended to read:

33

3024.  

The board may grant or refuse to grant an optometrist
34license as provided in this chapter and may revoke or suspend the
35license of any optometrist for any of the causes specified in this
36chapter.

37It shall have the power to administer oaths and to take testimony
38in the exercise of these functions.

39

SEC. 5.  

Section 3025 of the Business and Professions Code is
40amended to read:

P6    1

3025.  

The board may make and promulgate rules and
2regulations governing procedure of the board, the admission of
3applicants for examination for a license as an optometrist, and the
4practice of optometry. All of those rules and regulations shall be
5in accordance with and not inconsistent with the provisions of this
6chapter. The rules and regulations shall be adopted, amended, or
7repealed in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative
8Procedure Act.

9

SEC. 6.  

Section 3040 of the Business and Professions Code is
10amended to read:

11

3040.  

It is unlawful for a person to engage in the practice of
12optometry or to display a sign or in any other way to advertise or
13hold himself or herself out as an optometrist without having first
14obtained an optometrist license from the board under the provisions
15of this chapter or under the provisions of any former act relating
16to the practice of optometry. The practice of optometry includes
17the performing or controlling of any acts set forth in Section 3041.

18In any prosecution for a violation of this section, the use of test
19cards, test lenses, or of trial frames is prima facie evidence of the
20practice of optometry.

21

SEC. 7.  

Section 3041.2 of the Business and Professions Code
22 is amended to read:

23

3041.2.  

(a) The State Board of Optometry shall, by regulation,
24establish educational and examination requirements for licensure
25to ensure the competence of optometrists to practice pursuant to
26subdivision (a) of Section 3041. Satisfactory completion of the
27educational and examination requirements shall be a condition for
28the issuance of an original optometrist license under this chapter,
29on and after January 1, 1980. Only those optometrists who have
30successfully completed educational and examination requirements
31as determined by the State Board of Optometry shall be permitted
32the use of pharmaceutical agents specified by subdivision (a) of
33Section 3041.

34(b) Nothing in this section shall authorize an optometrist issued
35an original optometrist license under this chapter before January
361, 1996, to use or prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents
37specified in subdivision (d) of Section 3041 without otherwise
38meeting the requirements of Section 3041.3.

39

SEC. 8.  

Section 3051 of the Business and Professions Code is
40amended to read:

P7    1

3051.  

All applicants for examination for an optometrist license
2in accordance with the educational and examination requirements
3adopted pursuant to Section 3023.1 shall show the board by
4satisfactory evidence that he or she has received education in child
5abuse detection and the detection of alcoholism and other chemical
6substance dependency. This section shall apply only to applicants
7who matriculate in a school of optometry on or after September
81, 1997.

9

SEC. 9.  

Section 3057.5 of the Business and Professions Code
10 is amended to read:

11

3057.5.  

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
12the board shall permit a graduate of a foreign university who meets
13all of the following requirements to take the examinations for an
14optometrist license:

15(a) Is over 18 years of age.

16(b) Is not subject to denial of a license under Section 480.

17(c) Has a degree as a doctor of optometry issued by a university
18located outside of the United States.

19

SEC. 10.  

Section 3077 of the Business and Professions Code
20 is amended to read:

21

3077.  

As used in this section, “office” means any office or
22other place for the practice of optometry.

23(a) No person, singly or in combination with others, may have
24an office unless he or she is licensed to practice optometry under
25this chapter.

26(b) An optometrist, or two or more optometrists jointly, may
27have one office without obtaining a branch office license from the
28board.

29(c) On and after October 1, 1959, no optometrist, and no two
30or more optometrists jointly, may have more than one office unless
31he or she or they comply with the provisions of this chapter as to
32an additional office. The additional office, for the purposes of this
33chapter, constitutes a branch office.

34(d) Any optometrist who has, or any two or more optometrists,
35jointly, who have, a branch office prior to January 1, 1957, and
36who desire to continue the branch office on or after that date shall
37notify the board in writing of that desire in a manner prescribed
38by the board.

39(e) On and after January 1, 1957, any optometrist, or any two
40or more optometrists, jointly, who desire to open a branch office
P8    1shall notify the board in writing in a manner prescribed by the
2board.

3(f) On and after January 1, 1957, no branch office may be
4opened or operated without a branch office license. Branch office
5licenses shall be valid for the calendar year in or for which they
6are issued and shall be renewable on January 1 of each year
7thereafter. Branch office licenses shall be issued or renewed only
8upon the payment of the fee therefor prescribed by this chapter.

9On or after October 1, 1959, no more than one branch office
10license shall be issued to any optometrist or to any two or more
11optometrists, jointly.

12(g) Any failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter
13relating to branch offices or branch office licenses as to any branch
14office shall work the suspension of the optometrist license of each
15optometrist who, individually or with others, has a branch office.
16An optometrist license so suspended shall not be restored except
17upon compliance with those provisions and the payment of the fee
18prescribed by this chapter for restoration of a license after
19suspension for failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter
20relating to branch offices.

21(h) The holder or holders of a branch office license shall pay
22the annual renewal fee therefor in the amount required by this
23chapter between the first day of January and the first day of
24February of each year. The failure to pay the fee in advance on or
25before February 1 of each year during the time it is in force shall
26ipso facto work the suspension of the branch office license. The
27license shall not be restored except upon written application and
28the payment of the penalty prescribed by this chapter, and, in
29addition, all delinquent branch office fees.

30(i) Nothing in this chapter shall limit or authorize the board to
31limit the number of branch offices that are in operation on October
321, 1959, and that conform to this chapter, nor prevent an
33optometrist from acquiring any branch office or offices of his or
34her parent. The sale after October 1, 1959, of any branch office
35shall terminate the privilege of operating the branch office, and
36no new branch office license shall be issued in place of the license
37issued for the branch office, unless the branch office is the only
38one operated by the optometrist or by two or more optometrists
39jointly.

P9    1Nothing in this chapter shall prevent an optometrist from owning,
2maintaining, or operating more than one branch office if he or she
3is in personal attendance at each of his or her offices 50 percent
4of the time during which the office is open for the practice of
5optometry.

6(j) The board shall have the power to adopt, amend, and repeal
7rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

8(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, neither
9an optometrist nor an individual practice association shall be
10deemed to have an additional office solely by reason of the
11optometrist’s participation in an individual practice association or
12the individual practice association’s creation or operation. As used
13in this subdivision, the term “individual practice association” means
14an entity that meets all of the following requirements:

15(1) Complies with the definition of an optometric corporation
16in Section 3160.

17(2) Operates primarily for the purpose of securing contracts
18with health care service plans or other third-party payers that make
19available eye/vision services to enrollees or subscribers through a
20panel of optometrists.

21(3) Contracts with optometrists to serve on the panel of
22optometrists, but does not obtain an ownership interest in, or
23otherwise exercise control over, the respective optometric practices
24of those optometrists on the panel.

25Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to exempt an
26optometrist who is a member of an individual practice association
27and who practices optometry in more than one physical location,
28from the requirement of obtaining a branch office license for each
29of those locations, as required by this section. However, an
30optometrist shall not be required to obtain a branch office license
31solely as a result of his or her participation in an individual practice
32association in which the members of the individual practice
33association practice optometry in a number of different locations,
34and each optometrist is listed as a member of that individual
35practice association.

36

SEC. 11.  

Section 3093 of the Business and Professions Code
37 is amended to read:

38

3093.  

Before setting aside the revocation or suspension of any
39optometrist license, the board may require the applicant to pass
P10   1the regular examination given for applicants for an optometrist
2license.

3

SEC. 12.  

Section 3098 of the Business and Professions Code
4 is amended to read:

5

3098.  

When the holder uses the title of “Doctor” or “Dr.” as a
6prefix to his or her name, without using the word “optometrist” as
7a suffix to his or her name or in connection with it, or, without
8holding a diploma from an accredited school of optometry, the
9letters “Opt. D.” or “O.D.” as a suffix to his or her name, it
10constitutes a cause to revoke or suspend his or her optometrist
11license.

12

SEC. 13.  

Section 3103 of the Business and Professions Code
13 is amended to read:

14

3103.  

It is unlawful to include in any advertisement relating
15to the sale or disposition of goggles, sunglasses, colored glasses,
16or occupational eye-protective devices, any words or figures that
17advertise or have a tendency to advertise the practice of optometry.

18This section does not prohibit the advertising of the practice of
19optometry by a licensed optometrist in the manner permitted by
20law.

21

SEC. 14.  

Section 3106 of the Business and Professions Code
22 is amended to read:

23

3106.  

Knowingly making or signing any license, certificate,
24or other document directly or indirectly related to the practice of
25optometry that falsely represents the existence or nonexistence of
26a state of facts constitutes unprofessional conduct.

27

SEC. 15.  

Section 3107 of the Business and Professions Code
28 is amended to read:

29

3107.  

It is unlawful to use or attempt to use any license or
30certificate issued by the board that has been purchased, fraudulently
31issued, counterfeited, or issued by mistake, as a valid license or
32certificate.

33

SEC. 16.  

Section 3109 of the Business and Professions Code
34 is amended to read:

35

3109.  

Directly or indirectly accepting employment to practice
36optometry from any person not having a valid, unrevoked license
37as an optometrist or from any company or corporation constitutes
38unprofessional conduct. Except as provided in this chapter, no
39optometrist may, singly or jointly with others, be incorporated or
40become incorporated when the purpose or a purpose of the
P11   1corporation is to practice optometry or to conduct the practice of
2optometry.

3The terms “accepting employment to practice optometry” as
4used in this section shall not be construed so as to prevent a
5licensed optometrist from practicing optometry upon an individual
6patient.

7Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or the provisions
8of any other law, a licensed optometrist may be employed to
9practice optometry by a physician and surgeon who holds a license
10under this division and who practices in the specialty of
11ophthalmology or by a health care service plan pursuant to the
12provisions of Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of
13Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.

14

SEC. 17.  

Section 3163 of the Business and Professions Code
15 is amended to read:

16

3163.  

Except as provided in Section 3078, the name of an
17optometric corporation and any name or names under which it
18may be rendering professional services shall contain and be
19restricted to the name or the last name of one or more of the
20present, prospective, or former shareholders and shall include the
21words optometric corporation or wording or abbreviations denoting
22corporate existence, provided that the articles of incorporation
23shall be amended to delete the name of a former shareholder from
24the name of the corporation within two years from the date the
25former shareholder dies or otherwise ceases to be a shareholder.

26

SEC. 18.  

Section 4021.5 is added to the Business and
27Professions Code
, to read:

28

4021.5.  

“Correctional pharmacy” means a pharmacy, licensed
29by the board, located within a state correctional facility for the
30purpose of providing pharmaceutical care to inmates of the state
31correctional facility.

32

SEC. 19.  

Section 4053 of the Business and Professions Code
33 is amended to read:

34

4053.  

(a) Notwithstanding Section 4051, the board may issue
35a license as a designated representative to provide sufficient and
36qualified supervision in a wholesaler or veterinary food-animal
37drug retailer. The designated representative shall protect the public
38health and safety in the handling, storage, and shipment of
39dangerous drugs and dangerous devices in the wholesaler or
40veterinary food-animal drug retailer.

P12   1(b) An individual may apply for a designated representative
2license. In order to obtain and maintain that license, the individual
3shall meet all of the following requirements:

4(1) He or she shall be a high school graduate or possess a general
5education development certificate equivalent.

6(2) He or she shall have a minimum of one year of paid work
7experience in a licensed pharmacy, or with a drug wholesaler, drug
8distributor, or drug manufacturer, in the past three years, related
9to the distribution or dispensing of dangerous drugs or dangerous
10devices or meet all of the prerequisites to take the examination
11required for licensure as a pharmacist by the board.

12(3) He or she shall complete a training program approved by
13the board that, at a minimum, addresses each of the following
14subjects:

15(A) Knowledge and understanding of California law and federal
16law relating to the distribution of dangerous drugs and dangerous
17devices.

18(B) Knowledge and understanding of California law and federal
19law relating to the distribution of controlled substances.

20(C) Knowledge and understanding of quality control systems.

21(D) Knowledge and understanding of the United States
22Pharmacopoeia standards relating to the safe storage and handling
23of drugs.

24(E) Knowledge and understanding of prescription terminology,
25abbreviations, dosages and format.

26(4) The board may, by regulation, require training programs to
27include additional material.

28(5) The board may not issue a license as a designated
29 representative until the applicant provides proof of completion of
30the required training to the board.

31(c) The veterinary food-animal drug retailer or wholesaler shall
32not operate without a pharmacist or a designated representative
33on its premises.

34(d) Only a pharmacist or a designated representative shall
35prepare and affix the label to veterinary food-animal drugs.

36(e) Section 4051 shall not apply to any laboratory licensed under
37Section 351 of Title III of the Public Health Service Act (Public
38Law 78-410).

39

SEC. 20.  

Section 4107 of the Business and Professions Code
40 is amended to read:

P13   1

4107.  

(a) The board may not issue more than one site license
2to a single premises except as follows:

3(1) To issue a veterinary food-animal drug retailer license to a
4wholesaler pursuant to Section 4196.

5(2) To issue a license to compound sterile injectable drugs to a
6pharmacy pursuant to Section 4127.1.

7(3) To issue a centralized hospital packaging license pursuant
8to Section 4128.

9(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, “premises” means a
10location with its own address and an independent means of ingress
11and egress.

12

SEC. 21.  

Section 4980.36 of the Business and Professions
13Code
is amended to read:

14

4980.36.  

(a) This section shall apply to the following:

15(1) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate
16study before August 1, 2012, and do not complete that study on
17or before December 31, 2018.

18(2) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate
19study before August 1, 2012, and who graduate from a degree
20program that meets the requirements of this section.

21(3) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate
22study on or after August 1, 2012.

23(b) To qualify for a license or registration, applicants shall
24possess a doctoral or master’s degree meeting the requirements of
25this section in marriage, family, and child counseling, marriage
26and family therapy, couple and family therapy, psychology, clinical
27psychology, counseling psychology, or counseling with an
28emphasis in either marriage, family, and child counseling or
29marriage and family therapy, obtained from a school, college, or
30university approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary
31Education or accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation
32for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or a regional
33accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department
34of Education. The board has the authority to make the final
35determination as to whether a degree meets all requirements,
36including, but not limited to, course requirements, regardless of
37accreditation or approval.

38(c) A doctoral or master’s degree program that qualifies for
39licensure or registration shall do the following:

40(1) Integrate all of the following throughout its curriculum:

P14   1(A) Marriage and family therapy principles.

2(B) The principles of mental health recovery-oriented care and
3methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
4environments, among others.

5(C) An understanding of various cultures and the social and
6psychological implications of socioeconomic position, and an
7understanding of how poverty and social stress impact an
8individual’s mental health and recovery.

9(2) Allow for innovation and individuality in the education of
10marriage and family therapists.

11(3) Encourage students to develop the personal qualities that
12are intimately related to effective practice, including, but not
13limited to, integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion,
14and personal presence.

15(4) Permit an emphasis or specialization that may address any
16one or more of the unique and complex array of human problems,
17symptoms, and needs of Californians served by marriage and
18family therapists.

19(5) Provide students with the opportunity to meet with various
20consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
21services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental
22illness, treatment, and recovery.

23(d) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall contain no less
24than 60 semester or 90 quarter units of instruction that includes,
25but is not limited to, the following requirements:

26(1) Both of the following:

27(A) No less than 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework
28in theories, principles, and methods of a variety of
29psychotherapeutic orientations directly related to marriage and
30family therapy and marital and family systems approaches to
31treatment and how these theories can be applied therapeutically
32with individuals, couples, families, adults, including elder adults,
33children, adolescents, and groups to improve, restore, or maintain
34healthy relationships.

35(B) Practicum that involves direct client contact, as follows:

36(i) A minimum of six semester or nine quarter units of practicum
37in a supervised clinical placement that provides supervised
38fieldwork experience.

39(ii) A minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience
40counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

P15   1(iii) A student must be enrolled in a practicum course while
2counseling clients, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section
34980.42.

4(iv) The practicum shall provide training in all of the following
5areas:

6(I) Applied use of theory and psychotherapeutic techniques.

7(II) Assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis.

8(III) Treatment of individuals and premarital, couple, family,
9and child relationships, including trauma and abuse, dysfunctions,
10healthy functioning, health promotion, illness prevention, and
11working with families.

12(IV) Professional writing, including documentation of services,
13treatment plans, and progress notes.

14(V) How to connect people with resources that deliver the
15quality of services and support needed in the community.

16(v) Educational institutions are encouraged to design the
17practicum required by this subparagraph to include marriage and
18family therapy experience in low income and multicultural mental
19health settings.

20(vi) In addition to the 150 hours required in clause (ii), 75 hours
21of either of the following:

22(I) Client centered advocacy, as defined in Section 4980.03.

23(II) Face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples,
24families, or groups.

25(2) Instruction in all of the following:

26(A) Diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, and treatment of mental
27disorders, including severe mental disorders, evidence-based
28practices, psychological testing, psychopharmacology, and
29promising mental health practices that are evaluated in peer
30reviewed literature.

31(B) Developmental issues from infancy to old age, including
32instruction in all of the following areas:

33(i) The effects of developmental issues on individuals, couples,
34and family relationships.

35(ii) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, and health
36implications of developmental issues and their effects.

37(iii) Aging and its biological, social, cognitive, and
38psychological aspects.

39(iv) A variety of cultural understandings of human development.

P16   1(v) The understanding of human behavior within the social
2 context of socioeconomic status and other contextual issues
3affecting social position.

4(vi) The understanding of human behavior within the social
5context of a representative variety of the cultures found within
6California.

7(vii) The understanding of the impact that personal and social
8insecurity, social stress, low educational levels, inadequate housing,
9and malnutrition have on human development.

10(C) The broad range of matters and life events that may arise
11within marriage and family relationships and within a variety of
12California cultures, including instruction in all of the following:

13(i) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
14in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28,
15and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

16(ii) Spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention
17strategies, and same gender abuse dynamics.

18(iii) Cultural factors relevant to abuse of partners and family
19members.

20(iv) Childbirth, child rearing, parenting, and stepparenting.

21(v) Marriage, divorce, and blended families.

22(vi) Long-term care.

23(vii) End of life and grief.

24(viii) Poverty and deprivation.

25(ix) Financial and social stress.

26(x) Effects of trauma.

27(xi) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, community, and
28health implications of the matters and life events described in
29clauses (i) to (x), inclusive.

30(D) Cultural competency and sensitivity, including a familiarity
31with the racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds of
32persons living in California.

33(E) Multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction,
34including experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual
35orientation, gender, and disability, and their incorporation into the
36psychotherapeutic process.

37(F) The effects of socioeconomic status on treatment and
38available resources.

P17   1(G) Resilience, including the personal and community qualities
2that enable persons to cope with adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats,
3or other stresses.

4(H) Human sexuality, including the study of physiological,
5psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual
6behavior and gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of
7psychosexual dysfunction.

8(I) Substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and
9addiction, including, but not limited to, instruction in all of the
10following:

11(i) The definition of substance use disorders, co-occurring
12disorders, and addiction. For purposes of this subparagraph,
13“co-occurring disorders” means a mental illness and substance
14abuse diagnosis occurring simultaneously in an individual.

15(ii) Medical aspects of substance use disorders and co-occurring
16disorders.

17(iii) The effects of psychoactive drug use.

18(iv) Current theories of the etiology of substance abuse and
19addiction.

20(v) The role of persons and systems that support or compound
21substance abuse and addiction.

22(vi) Major approaches to identification, evaluation, and treatment
23of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction,
24including, but not limited to, best practices.

25(vii) Legal aspects of substance abuse.

26(viii) Populations at risk with regard to substance use disorders
27and co-occurring disorders.

28(ix) Community resources offering screening, assessment,
29treatment, and followup for the affected person and family.

30(x) Recognition of substance use disorders, co-occurring
31disorders, and addiction, and appropriate referral.

32(xi) The prevention of substance use disorders and addiction.

33(J) California law and professional ethics for marriage and
34family therapists, including instruction in all of the following areas
35of study:

36(i) Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory,
37and decisional laws that delineate the scope of practice of marriage
38and family therapy.

P18   1(ii) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations
2involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family
3therapy, including, but not limited to, family law.

4(iii) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health
5professions.

6(iv) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality, the
7patient dangerous to self or others, and the treatment of minors
8with and without parental consent.

9(v) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between
10a practitioner’s sense of self and human values and his or her
11professional behavior and ethics.

12(vi) Differences in legal and ethical standards for different types
13of work settings.

14(vii) Licensing law and licensing process.

15(e) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall, in addition to
16meeting the requirements of subdivision (d), include instruction
17in case management, systems of care for the severely mentally ill,
18public and private services and supports available for the severely
19mentally ill, community resources for persons with mental illness
20and for victims of abuse, disaster and trauma response, advocacy
21for the severely mentally ill, and collaborative treatment. This
22instruction may be provided either in credit level coursework or
23through extension programs offered by the degree-granting
24institution.

25(f) The changes made to law by this section are intended to
26improve the educational qualifications for licensure in order to
27better prepare future licentiates for practice, and are not intended
28to expand or restrict the scope of practice for marriage and family
29therapists.

30

SEC. 22.  

Section 4980.397 of the Business and Professions
31Code
is amended to read:

32

4980.397.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, an applicant for
33licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall pass the following
34two examinations as prescribed by the board:

35(1) A California law and ethics examination.

36(2) A clinical examination.

37(b) Upon registration with the board, a marriage and family
38therapist intern shall, within the first year of registration, take an
39examination on California law and ethics.

P19   1(c) A registrant may take the clinical examination only upon
2meeting all of the following requirements:

3(1) Completion of all required supervised work experience.

4(2) Completion of all education requirements.

5(3) Passage of the California law and ethics examination.

6(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

7

SEC. 23.  

Section 4980.398 of the Business and Professions
8Code
is amended to read:

9

4980.398.  

(a) Each applicant who had previously taken and
10passed the standard written examination but had not passed the
11clinical vignette examination shall also obtain a passing score on
12the clinical examination in order to be eligible for licensure.

13(b) An applicant who had previously failed to obtain a passing
14score on the standard written examination shall obtain a passing
15score on the California law and ethics examination and the clinical
16examination.

17(c) An applicant who had obtained eligibility for the standard
18written examination shall take the California law and ethics
19examination and the clinical examination.

20(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

21

SEC. 24.  

Section 4980.399 of the Business and Professions
22Code
is amended to read:

23

4980.399.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section
244980.398, each applicant and registrant shall obtain a passing score
25on a board-administered California law and ethics examination in
26order to qualify for licensure.

27(b) A registrant shall participate in a board-administered
28California law and ethics examination prior to his or her registration
29renewal.

30(c) If an applicant fails the California law and ethics
31examination, he or she may retake the examination, upon payment
32of the required fees, without further application except as provided
33in subdivision (d).

34(d) If a registrant fails to obtain a passing score on the California
35 law and ethics examination described in subdivision (a) within his
36or her first renewal period on or after the operative date of this
37section, he or she shall complete, at a minimum, a 12-hour course
38in California law and ethics in order to be eligible to participate
39in the California law and ethics examination. Registrants shall only
40take the 12-hour California law and ethics course once during a
P20   1renewal period. The 12-hour law and ethics course required by the
2section shall be taken through a board-approved continuing
3education provider, a county, state or governmental entity, or a
4college or university.

5(e) The board shall not issue a subsequent registration number
6unless the registrant has passed the California law and ethics
7examination.

8(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

9

SEC. 25.  

Section 4980.40 of the Business and Professions
10Code
, as amended by Section 29 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
112012, is amended to read:

12

4980.40.  

To qualify for a license, an applicant shall have all
13of the following qualifications:

14(a) Meet the educational requirements of Section 4980.36 or
15both Sections 4980.37 and 4980.41, as applicable.

16(b) Be at least 18 years of age.

17(c) Have at least two years of experience that meet the
18requirements of Section 4980.43.

19(d) Pass a board administered written or oral examination or
20both types of examinations, except that an applicant who passed
21a written examination and who has not taken and passed an oral
22examination shall instead be required to take and pass a clinical
23vignette written examination.

24(e) Not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
25denial of licensure under Section 480. The board shall not issue a
26registration or license to any person who has been convicted of a
27crime in this or another state or in a territory of the United States
28that involves sexual abuse of children or who is required to register
29pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code or the equivalent in
30another state or territory.

31(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
32and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
33is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

34

SEC. 26.  

Section 4980.40 of the Business and Professions
35Code
, as amended by Section 30 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
362012, is amended to read:

37

4980.40.  

To qualify for a license, an applicant shall have all
38of the following qualifications:

39(a) Meet the educational requirements of Section 4980.36 or
40both Sections 4980.37 and 4980.41, as applicable.

P21   1(b) Be at least 18 years of age.

2(c) Have at least two years of experience that meet the
3requirements of Section 4980.43.

4(d) Effective January 1, 2016, successfully pass a California
5law and ethics examination and a clinical examination. An
6applicant who has successfully passed a previously administered
7written examination may be subsequently required to take and pass
8another written examination.

9(e) Not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
10denial of licensure under Section 480. The board shall not issue a
11registration or license to any person who has been convicted of a
12crime in this or another state or in a territory of the United States
13that involves sexual abuse of children or who is required to register
14pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code or the equivalent in
15another state or territory.

16(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

17

SEC. 27.  

Section 4980.43 of the Business and Professions
18Code
is amended to read:

19

4980.43.  

(a) Prior to applying for licensure examinations, each
20applicant shall complete experience that shall comply with the
21following:

22(1) A minimum of 3,000 hours completed during a period of at
23least 104 weeks.

24(2) Not more than 40 hours in any seven consecutive days.

25(3) Not less than 1,700 hours of supervised experience
26completed subsequent to the granting of the qualifying master’s
27or doctoral degree.

28(4) Not more than 1,300 hours of supervised experience obtained
29prior to completing a master’s or doctoral degree.

30The applicant shall not be credited with more than 750 hours of
31counseling and direct supervisor contact prior to completing the
32master’s or doctoral degree.

33(5) No hours of experience may be gained prior to completing
34either 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of graduate instruction
35and becoming a trainee except for personal psychotherapy.

36(6) No hours of experience may be gained more than six years
37prior to the date the application for examination eligibility was
38filed, except that up to 500 hours of clinical experience gained in
39the supervised practicum required by subdivision (c) of Section
P22   14980.37 and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d)
2of Section 4980.36 shall be exempt from this six-year requirement.

3(7) Not more than a combined total of 1,000 hours of experience
4in the following:

5(A) Direct supervisor contact.

6(B) Professional enrichment activities. For purposes of this
7chapter, “professional enrichment activities” include the following:

8(i) Workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences
9directly related to marriage and family therapy attended by the
10applicant that are approved by the applicant’s supervisor. An
11applicant shall have no more than 250 hours of verified attendance
12at these workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences.

13(ii) Participation by the applicant in personal psychotherapy,
14which includes group, marital or conjoint, family, or individual
15psychotherapy by an appropriately licensed professional. An
16applicant shall have no more than 100 hours of participation in
17personal psychotherapy. The applicant shall be credited with three
18hours of experience for each hour of personal psychotherapy.

19(8) Not more than 500 hours of experience providing group
20therapy or group counseling.

21(9) For all hours gained on or after January 1, 2012, not more
22than 500 hours of experience in the following:

23(A) Experience administering and evaluating psychological
24tests, writing clinical reports, writing progress notes, or writing
25process notes.

26(B) Client centered advocacy.

27(10) Not less than 500 total hours of experience in diagnosing
28and treating couples, families, and children. For up to 150 hours
29of treating couples and families in conjoint therapy, the applicant
30shall be credited with two hours of experience for each hour of
31therapy provided.

32(11) Not more than 375 hours of experience providing personal
33psychotherapy, crisis counseling, or other counseling services via
34telehealth in accordance with Section 2290.5.

35(12) It is anticipated and encouraged that hours of experience
36will include working with elders and dependent adults who have
37physical or mental limitations that restrict their ability to carry out
38normal activities or protect their rights.

39This subdivision shall only apply to hours gained on and after
40January 1, 2010.

P23   1(b) All applicants, trainees, and registrants shall be at all times
2under the supervision of a supervisor who shall be responsible for
3ensuring that the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed
4is consistent with the training and experience of the person being
5supervised, and who shall be responsible to the board for
6compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the
7practice of marriage and family therapy. Supervised experience
8shall be gained by interns and trainees only as an employee or as
9a volunteer. The requirements of this chapter regarding gaining
10hours of experience and supervision are applicable equally to
11employees and volunteers. Experience shall not be gained by
12 interns or trainees for work performed as an independent contractor
13or reported on an IRS Form 1099.

14(1) If employed, an intern shall provide the board with copies
15of the corresponding W-2 tax forms for each year of experience
16claimed upon application for licensure.

17(2) If volunteering, an intern shall provide the board with a letter
18from his or her employer verifying the intern’s employment as a
19volunteer upon application for licensure.

20(c) Except for experience gained pursuant to subparagraph (B)
21of paragraph (7) of subdivision (a), supervision shall include at
22least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which
23experience is credited in each work setting, as specified:

24(1) A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of
25direct supervisor contact for every five hours of client contact in
26each setting.

27(2) An individual supervised after being granted a qualifying
28degree shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor
29contact for every week in which more than 10 hours of client
30contact is gained in each setting. No more than five hours of
31supervision, whether individual or group, shall be credited during
32any single week.

33(3) For purposes of this section, “one hour of direct supervisor
34contact” means one hour per week of face-to-face contact on an
35individual basis or two hours per week of face-to-face contact in
36a group.

37(4) Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week
38as the hours claimed.

P24   1(5) Direct supervisor contact provided in a group shall be
2provided in a group of not more than eight supervisees and in
3segments lasting no less than one continuous hour.

4(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), an intern working in a
5governmental entity, a school, a college, or a university, or an
6institution that is both nonprofit and charitable may obtain the
7required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time
8videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring
9that client confidentiality is upheld.

10(7) All experience gained by a trainee shall be monitored by the
11supervisor as specified by regulation.

12(d) (1) A trainee may be credited with supervised experience
13completed in any setting that meets all of the following:

14(A) Lawfully and regularly provides mental health counseling
15or psychotherapy.

16(B) Provides oversight to ensure that the trainee’s work at the
17setting meets the experience and supervision requirements set forth
18in this chapter and is within the scope of practice for the profession
19as defined in Section 4980.02.

20(C) Is not a private practice owned by a licensed marriage and
21family therapist, a licensed psychologist, a licensed clinical social
22worker, a licensed physician and surgeon, or a professional
23corporation of any of those licensed professions.

24(2) Experience may be gained by the trainee solely as part of
25the position for which the trainee volunteers or is employed.

26(e) (1) An intern may be credited with supervised experience
27completed in any setting that meets both of the following:

28(A) Lawfully and regularly provides mental health counseling
29or psychotherapy.

30(B) Provides oversight to ensure that the intern’s work at the
31setting meets the experience and supervision requirements set forth
32in this chapter and is within the scope of practice for the profession
33as defined in Section 4980.02.

34(2) An applicant shall not be employed or volunteer in a private
35practice, as defined in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of
36subdivision (d), until registered as an intern.

37(3) While an intern may be either a paid employee or a
38volunteer, employers are encouraged to provide fair remuneration
39to interns.

P25   1(4) Except for periods of time during a supervisor’s vacation or
2sick leave, an intern who is employed or volunteering in private
3practice shall be under the direct supervision of a licensee that has
4satisfied the requirements of subdivision (g) of Section 4980.03.
5The supervising licensee shall either be employed by and practice
6at the same site as the intern’s employer, or shall be an owner or
7shareholder of the private practice. Alternative supervision may
8be arranged during a supervisor’s vacation or sick leave if the
9supervision meets the requirements of this section.

10(5) Experience may be gained by the intern solely as part of the
11position for which the intern volunteers or is employed.

12(f) Except as provided in subdivision (g), all persons shall
13register with the board as an intern in order to be credited for
14postdegree hours of supervised experience gained toward licensure.

15(g) Except when employed in a private practice setting, all
16postdegree hours of experience shall be credited toward licensure
17so long as the applicant applies for the intern registration within
1890 days of the granting of the qualifying master’s or doctoral
19degree and is thereafter granted the intern registration by the board.

20(h) Trainees, interns, and applicants shall not receive any
21remuneration from patients or clients, and shall only be paid by
22their employers.

23(i) Trainees, interns, and applicants shall only perform services
24at the place where their employers regularly conduct business,
25which may include performing services at other locations, so long
26as the services are performed under the direction and control of
27their employer and supervisor, and in compliance with the laws
28and regulations pertaining to supervision. Trainees and interns
29shall have no proprietary interest in their employers’ businesses
30and shall not lease or rent space, pay for furnishings, equipment,
31or supplies, or in any other way pay for the obligations of their
32employers.

33(j) Trainees, interns, or applicants who provide volunteered
34services or other services, and who receive no more than a total,
35from all work settings, of five hundred dollars ($500) per month
36as reimbursement for expenses actually incurred by those trainees,
37interns, or applicants for services rendered in any lawful work
38setting other than a private practice shall be considered an
39employee and not an independent contractor. The board may audit
40applicants who receive reimbursement for expenses, and the
P26   1applicants shall have the burden of demonstrating that the payments
2received were for reimbursement of expenses actually incurred.

3(k) Each educational institution preparing applicants for
4licensure pursuant to this chapter shall consider requiring, and
5shall encourage, its students to undergo individual, marital or
6conjoint, family, or group counseling or psychotherapy, as
7appropriate. Each supervisor shall consider, advise, and encourage
8his or her interns and trainees regarding the advisability of
9undertaking individual, marital or conjoint, family, or group
10counseling or psychotherapy, as appropriate. Insofar as it is deemed
11appropriate and is desired by the applicant, the educational
12institution and supervisors are encouraged to assist the applicant
13in locating that counseling or psychotherapy at a reasonable cost.

14

SEC. 28.  

Section 4980.50 of the Business and Professions
15Code
, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 800 of the Statutes of
162012, is amended to read:

17

4980.50.  

(a) Every applicant who meets the educational and
18experience requirements and applies for a license as a marriage
19and family therapist shall be examined by the board. The
20examinations shall be as set forth in subdivision (d) of Section
214980.40. The examinations shall be given at least twice a year at
22a time and place and under supervision as the board may determine.
23The board shall examine the candidate with regard to his or her
24knowledge and professional skills and his or her judgment in the
25utilization of appropriate techniques and methods.

26(b) The board shall not deny any applicant, who has submitted
27a complete application for examination, admission to the licensure
28examinations required by this section if the applicant meets the
29educational and experience requirements of this chapter, and has
30not committed any acts or engaged in any conduct that would
31constitute grounds to deny licensure.

32(c) The board shall not deny any applicant, whose application
33for licensure is complete, admission to the standard written
34examination, nor shall the board postpone or delay any applicant’s
35standard written examination or delay informing the candidate of
36the results of the standard written examination, solely upon the
37receipt by the board of a complaint alleging acts or conduct that
38would constitute grounds to deny licensure.

39(d) If an applicant for examination who has passed the standard
40written examination is the subject of a complaint or is under board
P27   1investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven to be true, would
2constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure, the board shall
3permit the applicant to take the clinical vignette written
4 examination for licensure, but may withhold the results of the
5examination or notify the applicant that licensure will not be
6granted pending completion of the investigation.

7(e) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any
8applicant who has previously failed either the standard written or
9clinical vignette written examination permission to retake either
10examination pending completion of the investigation of any
11complaints against the applicant. Nothing in this section shall
12prohibit the board from denying an applicant admission to any
13examination, withholding the results, or refusing to issue a license
14to any applicant when an accusation or statement of issues has
15been filed against the applicant pursuant to Sections 11503 and
1611504 of the Government Code, respectively, or the applicant has
17been denied in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 485.

18(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may
19destroy all examination materials two years following the date of
20an examination.

21(g) On or after January 1, 2002, no applicant shall be eligible
22to participate in a clinical vignette written examination if his or
23her passing score on the standard written examination occurred
24more than seven years before.

25(h) An applicant who has qualified pursuant to this chapter shall
26be issued a license as a marriage and family therapist in the form
27that the board may deem appropriate.

28(i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
29and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
30is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

31

SEC. 29.  

Section 4980.50 of the Business and Professions
32Code
, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 800 of the Statutes of
332012, is amended to read:

34

4980.50.  

Effective January 1, 2016, the following shall apply:

35(a) Every applicant who meets the educational and experience
36requirements and applies for a license as a marriage and family
37therapist shall be examined by the board. The examinations shall
38be as set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 4980.40. The
39examinations shall be given at least twice a year at a time and place
40and under supervision as the board may determine. The board shall
P28   1examine the candidate with regard to his or her knowledge and
2professional skills and his or her judgment in the utilization of
3appropriate techniques and methods.

4(b) The board shall not deny any applicant, who has submitted
5a complete application for examination, admission to the licensure
6examinations required by this section if the applicant meets the
7educational and experience requirements of this chapter, and has
8not committed any acts or engaged in any conduct that would
9constitute grounds to deny licensure.

10(c) The board shall not deny any applicant, whose application
11for licensure is complete, admission to the clinical examination,
12nor shall the board postpone or delay any applicant’s clinical
13examination or delay informing the candidate of the results of the
14clinical examination, solely upon the receipt by the board of a
15complaint alleging acts or conduct that would constitute grounds
16to deny licensure.

17(d) If an applicant for examination who has passed the California
18law and ethics examination is the subject of a complaint or is under
19board investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven to be true,
20would constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure, the board
21shall permit the applicant to take the clinical examination for
22licensure, but may withhold the results of the examination or notify
23the applicant that licensure will not be granted pending completion
24of the investigation.

25(e) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any
26applicant who has previously failed either the California law and
27ethics examination or the clinical examination permission to retake
28either examination pending completion of the investigation of any
29complaints against the applicant. Nothing in this section shall
30prohibit the board from denying an applicant admission to any
31examination, withholding the results, or refusing to issue a license
32to any applicant when an accusation or statement of issues has
33been filed against the applicant pursuant to Sections 11503 and
3411504 of the Government Code, respectively, or the applicant has
35been denied in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 485.

36(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may
37destroy all examination materials two years following the date of
38an examination.

39(g) Effective January 1, 2016, no applicant shall be eligible to
40participate in the clinical examination if he or she fails to obtain
P29   1a passing score on the clinical examination within seven years
2from his or her initial attempt, unless he or she takes and obtains
3a passing score on the current version of the California law and
4ethics examination.

5(h) A passing score on the clinical examination shall be accepted
6by the board for a period of seven years from the date the
7examination was taken.

8(i) An applicant who has qualified pursuant to this chapter shall
9be issued a license as a marriage and family therapist in the form
10that the board may deem appropriate.

11(j) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

12

SEC. 30.  

Section 4980.72 of the Business and Professions
13Code
is amended to read:

14

4980.72.  

(a) This section applies to persons who are licensed
15outside of California and apply for licensure on or after January
161, 2014.

17(b) The board may issue a license to a person who, at the time
18of submitting an application for a license pursuant to this chapter,
19holds a valid license in good standing issued by a board of marriage
20counselor examiners, board of marriage and family therapists, or
21corresponding authority, of any state or country, if all of the
22following conditions are satisfied:

23(1) The applicant’s education is substantially equivalent, as
24defined in Section 4980.78. The applicant’s degree title need not
25be identical to that required by Section 4980.36 or 4980.37.

26(2) The applicant complies with Section 4980.76, if applicable.

27(3) The applicant’s supervised experience is substantially
28equivalent to that required for a license under this chapter. If the
29applicant has less than 3,000 hours of qualifying supervised
30experience, time actively licensed as a marriage and family
31therapist shall be accepted at a rate of 100 hours per month up to
32a maximum of 1,200 hours.

33(4) The applicant passes the California law and ethics
34examination.

35(5) The applicant passes a clinical examination designated by
36the board. An applicant who obtained his or her license or
37registration under another jurisdiction may apply for licensure with
38the board without taking the clinical examination if both of the
39following conditions are met:

P30   1(A) The applicant obtained a passing score on the licensing
2examination set forth in regulation as accepted by the board.

3(B) The applicant’s license or registration in that jurisdiction is
4in good standing at the time of his or her application and has not
5been revoked, suspended, surrendered, denied, or otherwise
6restricted or encumbered as a result of any disciplinary proceeding
7brought by the licensing authority of that jurisdiction.

8

SEC. 31.  

Section 4984.01 of the Business and Professions
9Code
, as amended by Section 38 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
102012, is amended to read:

11

4984.01.  

(a) The marriage and family therapist intern
12registration shall expire one year from the last day of the month
13in which it was issued.

14(b) To renew the registration, the registrant shall, on or before
15the expiration date of the registration, complete all of the following
16actions:

17(1) Apply for renewal on a form prescribed by the board.

18(2) Pay a renewal fee prescribed by the board.

19(3) Notify the board whether he or she has been convicted, as
20defined in Section 490, of a misdemeanor or felony, and whether
21any disciplinary action has been taken against him or her by a
22 regulatory or licensing board in this or any other state subsequent
23to the last renewal of the registration.

24(c) The registration may be renewed a maximum of five times.
25No registration shall be renewed or reinstated beyond six years
26from the last day of the month during which it was issued,
27regardless of whether it has been revoked. When no further
28renewals are possible, an applicant may apply for and obtain a new
29intern registration if the applicant meets the educational
30requirements for registration in effect at the time of the application
31for a new intern registration. An applicant who is issued a
32subsequent intern registration pursuant to this subdivision may be
33employed or volunteer in any allowable work setting except private
34practice.

35(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
36and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
37is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

38

SEC. 32.  

Section 4984.01 of the Business and Professions
39Code
, as amended by Section 39 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
402012, is amended to read:

P31   1

4984.01.  

(a) The marriage and family therapist intern
2registration shall expire one year from the last day of the month
3in which it was issued.

4(b) To renew the registration, the registrant shall, on or before
5the expiration date of the registration, complete all of the following
6actions:

7(1) Apply for renewal on a form prescribed by the board.

8(2) Pay a renewal fee prescribed by the board.

9(3) Participate in the California law and ethics examination
10pursuant to Section 4980.399 each year until successful completion
11of this examination.

12(4) Notify the board whether he or she has been convicted, as
13defined in Section 490, of a misdemeanor or felony, and whether
14any disciplinary action has been taken against him or her by a
15regulatory or licensing board in this or any other state subsequent
16to the last renewal of the registration.

17(c) The registration may be renewed a maximum of five times.
18No registration shall be renewed or reinstated beyond six years
19from the last day of the month during which it was issued,
20regardless of whether it has been revoked. When no further
21renewals are possible, an applicant may apply for and obtain a new
22intern registration if the applicant meets the educational
23requirements for registration in effect at the time of the application
24for a new intern registration and has passed the California law and
25ethics examination described in Section 4980.399. An applicant
26who is issued a subsequent intern registration pursuant to this
27subdivision may be employed or volunteer in any allowable work
28setting except private practice.

29(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

30

SEC. 33.  

Section 4984.7 of the Business and Professions Code,
31as amended by Section 41 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
32is amended to read:

33

4984.7.  

(a) The board shall assess the following fees relating
34to the licensure of marriage and family therapists:

35(1) The application fee for an intern registration shall be
36seventy-five dollars ($75).

37(2) The renewal fee for an intern registration shall be
38seventy-five dollars ($75).

39(3) The fee for the application for examination eligibility shall
40be one hundred dollars ($100).

P32   1(4) The fee for the standard written examination shall be one
2hundred dollars ($100). The fee for the clinical vignette
3examination shall be one hundred dollars ($100).

4(A) An applicant who fails to appear for an examination, after
5having been scheduled to take the examination, shall forfeit the
6examination fee.

7(B) The amount of the examination fees shall be based on the
8actual cost to the board of developing, purchasing, and grading
9each examination and the actual cost to the board of administering
10each examination. The examination fees shall be adjusted
11periodically by regulation to reflect the actual costs incurred by
12the board.

13(5) The fee for rescoring an examination shall be twenty dollars
14($20).

15(6) The fee for issuance of an initial license shall be a maximum
16of one hundred eighty dollars ($180).

17(7) The fee for license renewal shall be a maximum of one
18hundred eighty dollars ($180).

19(8) The fee for inactive license renewal shall be a maximum of
20ninety dollars ($90).

21(9) The renewal delinquency fee shall be a maximum of ninety
22dollars ($90). A person who permits his or her license to expire is
23subject to the delinquency fee.

24(10) The fee for issuance of a replacement registration, license,
25or certificate shall be twenty dollars ($20).

26(11) The fee for issuance of a certificate or letter of good
27standing shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

28(12) The fee for issuance of a retired license shall be forty dollars
29($40).

30(b) With regard to license, examination, and other fees, the
31board shall establish fee amounts at or below the maximum
32amounts specified in this chapter.

33(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
34and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
35is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

36

SEC. 34.  

Section 4984.7 of the Business and Professions Code,
37as amended by Section 42 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
38is amended to read:

39

4984.7.  

(a) The board shall assess the following fees relating
40to the licensure of marriage and family therapists:

P33   1(1) The application fee for an intern registration shall be
2seventy-five dollars ($75).

3(2) The renewal fee for an intern registration shall be
4seventy-five dollars ($75).

5(3) The fee for the application for examination eligibility shall
6be one hundred dollars ($100).

7(4) The fee for the clinical examination shall be one hundred
8dollars ($100). The fee for the California law and ethics
9examination shall be one hundred dollars ($100).

10(A) An applicant who fails to appear for an examination, after
11having been scheduled to take the examination, shall forfeit the
12examination fee.

13(B) The amount of the examination fees shall be based on the
14actual cost to the board of developing, purchasing, and grading
15each examination and the actual cost to the board of administering
16each examination. The examination fees shall be adjusted
17periodically by regulation to reflect the actual costs incurred by
18the board.

19(5) The fee for rescoring an examination shall be twenty dollars
20($20).

21(6) The fee for issuance of an initial license shall be a maximum
22of one hundred eighty dollars ($180).

23(7) The fee for license renewal shall be a maximum of one
24hundred eighty dollars ($180).

25(8) The fee for inactive license renewal shall be a maximum of
26ninety dollars ($90).

27(9) The renewal delinquency fee shall be a maximum of ninety
28dollars ($90). A person who permits his or her license to expire is
29subject to the delinquency fee.

30(10) The fee for issuance of a replacement registration, license,
31or certificate shall be twenty dollars ($20).

32(11) The fee for issuance of a certificate or letter of good
33standing shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

34(12) The fee for issuance of a retired license shall be forty dollars
35($40).

36(b) With regard to license, examination, and other fees, the
37board shall establish fee amounts at or below the maximum
38amounts specified in this chapter.

39(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

P34   1

SEC. 35.  

Section 4984.72 of the Business and Professions
2Code
, as amended by Section 43 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
32012, is amended to read:

4

4984.72.  

(a) An applicant who fails a standard or clinical
5vignette written examination may, within one year from the
6notification date of that failure, retake the examination as regularly
7scheduled without further application upon payment of the fee for
8the examination. Thereafter, the applicant shall not be eligible for
9further examination until he or she files a new application, meets
10all requirements in effect on the date of application, and pays all
11required fees.

12(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
13and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
14is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

15

SEC. 36.  

Section 4984.72 of the Business and Professions
16Code
, as amended by Section 44 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
172012, is amended to read:

18

4984.72.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, an applicant who fails
19the clinical examination may, within one year from the notification
20date of that failure, retake the examination as regularly scheduled
21without further application upon payment of the fee for the
22examination. Thereafter, the applicant shall not be eligible for
23further examination until he or she files a new application, meets
24all requirements in effect on the date of application, and pays all
25required fees.

26(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

27

SEC. 37.  

Section 4989.68 of the Business and Professions
28Code
is amended to read:

29

4989.68.  

(a) The board shall assess the following fees relating
30to the licensure of educational psychologists:

31(1) The application fee for examination eligibility shall be one
32hundred dollars ($100).

33(2) The fee for issuance of the initial license shall be a maximum
34amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

35(3) The fee for license renewal shall be a maximum amount of
36one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

37(4) The delinquency fee shall be a maximum amount of
38seventy-five dollars ($75). A person who permits his or her license
39to become delinquent may have it restored only upon payment of
40all the fees that he or she would have paid if the license had not
P35   1become delinquent, plus the payment of any and all delinquency
2fees.

3(5) The written examination fee shall be one hundred dollars
4($100). An applicant who fails to appear for an examination, once
5having been scheduled, shall forfeit any examination fees he or
6she paid.

7(6) The fee for rescoring a written examination shall be twenty
8dollars ($20).

9(7) The fee for issuance of a replacement registration, license,
10or certificate shall be twenty dollars ($20).

11(8) The fee for issuance of a certificate or letter of good standing
12shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

13(9) The fee for issuance of a retired license shall be forty dollars
14($40).

15(b) With regard to all license, examination, and other fees, the
16board shall establish fee amounts at or below the maximum
17amounts specified in this chapter.

18

SEC. 38.  

Section 4992.05 of the Business and Professions
19Code
is amended to read:

20

4992.05.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, an applicant for
21licensure as a clinical social worker shall pass the following two
22examinations as prescribed by the board:

23(1) A California law and ethics examination.

24(2) A clinical examination.

25(b) Upon registration with the board, an associate social worker
26registrant shall, within the first year of registration, take an
27examination on California law and ethics.

28(c) A registrant may take the clinical examination only upon
29meeting all of the following requirements:

30(1) Completion of all education requirements.

31(2) Passage of the California law and ethics examination.

32(3) Completion of all required supervised work experience.

33(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

34

SEC. 39.  

Section 4992.07 of the Business and Professions
35Code
is amended to read:

36

4992.07.  

(a) An applicant who had previously taken and passed
37the standard written examination but had not passed the clinical
38vignette examination shall also obtain a passing score on the
39clinical examination in order to be eligible for licensure.

P36   1(b) An applicant who had previously failed to obtain a passing
2score on the standard written examination shall obtain a passing
3score on the California law and ethics examination and the clinical
4examination.

5(c) An applicant who had obtained eligibility for the standard
6written examination shall take the California law and ethics
7examination and the clinical examination.

8(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

9

SEC. 40.  

Section 4992.09 of the Business and Professions
10Code
is amended to read:

11

4992.09.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section
124992.07, an applicant and registrant shall obtain a passing score
13on a board-administered California law and ethics examination in
14order to qualify for licensure.

15(b) A registrant shall participate in a board-administered
16California law and ethics examination prior to his or her registration
17renewal.

18(c) If an applicant fails the California law and ethics
19examination, he or she may retake the examination, upon payment
20of the required fees, without further application except for as
21provided in subdivision (d).

22(d) If a registrant fails to obtain a passing score on the California
23 law and ethics examination described in subdivision (a) within his
24or her first renewal period on or after the operative date of this
25section, he or she shall complete, at a minimum, a 12-hour course
26in California law and ethics in order to be eligible to participate
27in the California law and ethics examination. Registrants shall only
28take the 12-hour California law and ethics course once during a
29renewal period. The 12-hour law and ethics course required by the
30section shall be taken through a board-approved continuing
31education provider, a county, state or governmental entity, or a
32college or university.

33(e) The board shall not issue a subsequent registration number
34unless the registrant has passed the California law and ethics
35examination.

36(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

37

SEC. 41.  

Section 4992.1 of the Business and Professions Code,
38as amended by Section 4 of Chapter 800 of the Statutes of 2012,
39is amended to read:

P37   1

4992.1.  

(a) Only individuals who have the qualifications
2prescribed by the board under this chapter are eligible to take the
3examination.

4(b) Every applicant who is issued a clinical social worker license
5shall be examined by the board.

6(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may
7destroy all examination materials two years following the date of
8an examination.

9(d) The board shall not deny any applicant, whose application
10for licensure is complete, admission to the standard written
11examination, nor shall the board postpone or delay any applicant’s
12standard written examination or delay informing the candidate of
13the results of the standard written examination, solely upon the
14receipt by the board of a complaint alleging acts or conduct that
15would constitute grounds to deny licensure.

16(e) If an applicant for examination who has passed the standard
17written examination is the subject of a complaint or is under board
18investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven to be true, would
19constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure, the board shall
20permit the applicant to take the clinical vignette written
21examination for licensure, but may withhold the results of the
22examination or notify the applicant that licensure will not be
23granted pending completion of the investigation.

24(f) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any
25applicant who has previously failed either the standard written or
26clinical vignette written examination permission to retake either
27examination pending completion of the investigation of any
28complaint against the applicant. Nothing in this section shall
29prohibit the board from denying an applicant admission to any
30examination, withholding the results, or refusing to issue a license
31to any applicant when an accusation or statement of issues has
32been filed against the applicant pursuant to Section 11503 or 11504
33of the Government Code, or the applicant has been denied in
34accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 485.

35(g) On or after January 1, 2002, no applicant shall be eligible
36to participate in a clinical vignette written examination if his or
37her passing score on the standard written examination occurred
38more than seven years before.

P38   1(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
2and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
3is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

4

SEC. 42.  

Section 4992.1 of the Business and Professions Code,
5as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 800 of the Statutes of 2012,
6is amended to read:

7

4992.1.  

(a) Only individuals who have the qualifications
8prescribed by the board under this chapter are eligible to take an
9examination under this chapter.

10(b) Every applicant who is issued a clinical social worker license
11shall be examined by the board.

12(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may
13destroy all examination materials two years following the date of
14an examination.

15(d) The board shall not deny any applicant, whose application
16for licensure is complete, admission to the clinical examination,
17nor shall the board postpone or delay any applicant’s clinical
18examination or delay informing the candidate of the results of the
19clinical examination, solely upon the receipt by the board of a
20complaint alleging acts or conduct that would constitute grounds
21to deny licensure.

22(e) If an applicant for examination who has passed the California
23law and ethics examination is the subject of a complaint or is under
24board investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven to be true,
25would constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure, the board
26shall permit the applicant to take the clinical examination for
27licensure, but may withhold the results of the examination or notify
28the applicant that licensure will not be granted pending completion
29of the investigation.

30(f) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any
31applicant who has previously failed either the California law and
32ethics examination or the clinical examination permission to retake
33either examination pending completion of the investigation of any
34complaint against the applicant. Nothing in this section shall
35prohibit the board from denying an applicant admission to any
36examination, withholding the results, or refusing to issue a license
37to any applicant when an accusation or statement of issues has
38been filed against the applicant pursuant to Section 11503 or 11504
39of the Government Code, or the applicant has been denied in
40accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 485.

P39   1(g) Effective January 1, 2016, no applicant shall be eligible to
2participate in the clinical examination if he or she fails to obtain
3a passing score on the clinical examination within seven years
4from his or her initial attempt, unless he or she takes and obtains
5a passing score on the current version of the California law and
6ethics examination.

7(h) A passing score on the clinical examination shall be accepted
8by the board for a period of seven years from the date the
9examination was taken.

10(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

11

SEC. 43.  

Section 4996.1 of the Business and Professions Code,
12as amended by Section 52 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
13is amended to read:

14

4996.1.  

(a) The board shall issue a clinical social worker
15license to each applicant who qualifies pursuant to this article and
16successfully passes a board-administered written or oral
17examination or both examinations. An applicant who has
18successfully passed a previously administered written examination
19may be subsequently required to take and pass another written
20examination.

21(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
22and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
23is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

24

SEC. 44.  

Section 4996.1 of the Business and Professions Code,
25as amended by Section 53 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
26is amended to read:

27

4996.1.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, the board shall issue a
28clinical social worker license to each applicant who qualifies
29pursuant to this article and who successfully passes a California
30law and ethics examination and a clinical examination. An
31applicant who has successfully passed a previously administered
32written examination may be subsequently required to take and pass
33another written examination.

34(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

35

SEC. 45.  

Section 4996.3 of the Business and Professions Code,
36 as amended by Section 54 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
37is amended to read:

38

4996.3.  

(a) The board shall assess the following fees relating
39to the licensure of clinical social workers:

P40   1(1) The application fee for registration as an associate clinical
2social worker shall be seventy-five dollars ($75).

3(2) The fee for renewal of an associate clinical social worker
4registration shall be seventy-five dollars ($75).

5(3) The fee for application for examination eligibility shall be
6one hundred dollars ($100).

7(4) The fee for the standard written examination shall be a
8maximum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150). The fee for the
9clinical vignette examination shall be one hundred dollars ($100).

10(A) An applicant who fails to appear for an examination, after
11having been scheduled to take the examination, shall forfeit the
12examination fees.

13(B) The amount of the examination fees shall be based on the
14actual cost to the board of developing, purchasing, and grading
15each examination and the actual cost to the board of administering
16each examination. The written examination fees shall be adjusted
17periodically by regulation to reflect the actual costs incurred by
18the board.

19(5) The fee for rescoring an examination shall be twenty dollars
20($20).

21(6) The fee for issuance of an initial license shall be a maximum
22of one hundred fifty-five dollars ($155).

23(7) The fee for license renewal shall be a maximum of one
24hundred fifty-five dollars ($155).

25(8) The fee for inactive license renewal shall be a maximum of
26seventy-seven dollars and fifty cents ($77.50).

27(9) The renewal delinquency fee shall bebegin insert a maximum ofend insert
28 seventy-five dollars ($75). A person who permits his or her license
29to expire is subject to the delinquency fee.

30(10) The fee for issuance of a replacement registration, license,
31or certificate shall be twenty dollars ($20).

32(11) The fee for issuance of a certificate or letter of good
33standing shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

34(12) The fee for issuance of a retired license shall be forty dollars
35($40).

36(b) With regard to license, examination, and other fees, the
37board shall establish fee amounts at or below the maximum
38amounts specified in this chapter.

P41   1(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
2and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
3is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

4

SEC. 46.  

Section 4996.3 of the Business and Professions Code,
5as amended by Section 55 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
6is amended to read:

7

4996.3.  

(a) The board shall assess the following fees relating
8to the licensure of clinical social workers:

9(1) The application fee for registration as an associate clinical
10social worker shall be seventy-five dollars ($75).

11(2) The fee for renewal of an associate clinical social worker
12registration shall be seventy-five dollars ($75).

13(3) The fee for application for examination eligibility shall be
14one hundred dollars ($100).

15(4) The fee for the clinical examination shall be one hundred
16dollars ($100). The fee for the California law and ethics
17examination shall be one hundred dollars ($100).

18(A) An applicant who fails to appear for an examination, after
19having been scheduled to take the examination, shall forfeit the
20examination fees.

21(B) The amount of the examination fees shall be based on the
22actual cost to the board of developing, purchasing, and grading
23each examination and the actual cost to the board of administering
24each examination. The written examination fees shall be adjusted
25periodically by regulation to reflect the actual costs incurred by
26the board.

27(5) The fee for rescoring an examination shall be twenty dollars
28($20).

29(6) The fee for issuance of an initial license shall be a maximum
30of one hundred fifty-five dollars ($155).

31(7) The fee for license renewal shall be a maximum of one
32hundred fifty-five dollars ($155).

33(8) The fee for inactive license renewal shall be a maximum of
34seventy-seven dollars and fifty cents ($77.50).

35(9) The renewal delinquency fee shall be a maximum of
36seventy-five dollars ($75). A person who permits his or her license
37to expire is subject to the delinquency fee.

38(10) The fee for issuance of a replacement registration, license,
39or certificate shall be twenty dollars ($20).

P42   1(11) The fee for issuance of a certificate or letter of good
2standing shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

3(12) The fee for issuance of a retired license shall be forty dollars
4($40).

5(b) With regard to license, examination, and other fees, the
6board shall establish fee amounts at or below the maximum
7amounts specified in this chapter.

8(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

9

SEC. 47.  

Section 4996.4 of the Business and Professions Code,
10as amended by Section 56 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
11is amended to read:

12

4996.4.  

(a) An applicant who fails a standard or clinical
13vignette written examination may, within one year from the
14notification date of failure, retake that examination as regularly
15scheduled, without further application, upon payment of the
16required examination fees. Thereafter, the applicant shall not be
17eligible for further examination until he or she files a new
18application, meets all current requirements, and pays all required
19fees.

20(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
21and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
22is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

23

SEC. 48.  

Section 4996.4 of the Business and Professions Code,
24as amended by Section 57 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of 2012,
25is amended to read:

26

4996.4.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, an applicant who fails
27the clinical examination may, within one year from the notification
28date of failure, retake that examination as regularly scheduled,
29without further application, upon payment of the required
30examination fees. Thereafter, the applicant shall not be eligible
31for further examination until he or she files a new application,
32meets all current requirements, and pays all required fees.

33(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

34

SEC. 49.  

Section 4996.9 of the Business and Professions Code
35 is amended to read:

36

4996.9.  

The practice of clinical social work is defined as a
37service in which a special knowledge of social resources, human
38capabilities, and the part that unconscious motivation plays in
39determining behavior, is directed at helping people to achieve more
40adequate, satisfying, and productive social adjustments. The
P43   1application of social work principles and methods includes, but is
2not restricted to, counseling and using applied psychotherapy of
3a nonmedical nature with individuals, families, or groups; providing
4information and referral services; providing or arranging for the
5provision of social services; explaining or interpreting the
6psychosocial aspects in the situations of individuals, families, or
7groups; helping communities to organize, to provide, or to improve
8social or health services; doing research related to social work;
9and the use, application, and integration of the coursework and
10experience required by Sections 4996.2 and 4996.23.

11Psychotherapy, within the meaning of this chapter, is the use of
12psychosocial methods within a professional relationship, to assist
13the person or persons to achieve a better psychosocial adaptation,
14to acquire greater human realization of psychosocial potential and
15adaptation, and to modify internal and external conditions which
16affect individuals, groups, or communities in respect to behavior,
17emotions, and thinking, in respect to their intrapersonal and
18interpersonal processes.

19

SEC. 50.  

Section 4996.17 of the Business and Professions
20Code
is amended to read:

21

4996.17.  

(a) (1) Experience gained outside of California shall
22be accepted toward the licensure requirements if it is substantially
23the equivalent of the requirements of this chapter.

24(2) Commencing January 1, 2014, an applicant with experience
25gained outside of California shall complete an 18-hour course in
26California law and professional ethics. The content of the course
27shall include, but not be limited to, the following: advertising,
28scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors,
29confidentiality, dangerous patients, psychotherapist-patient
30privilege, recordkeeping, patient access to records, state and federal
31laws related to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
32relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
33therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
34actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
35standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
36law, therapist disclosures to patients, differences in legal and ethical
37standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law
38and process.

39(b) The board may issue a license to any person who, at the time
40of application, holds a valid active clinical social work license
P44   1issued by a board of clinical social work examiners or
2corresponding authority of any state, if the person passes, or has
3passed, the licensing examinations as specified in Section 4996.1
4and pays the required fees. Issuance of the license is conditioned
5upon all of the following:

6(1) The applicant has supervised experience that is substantially
7the equivalent of that required by this chapter. If the applicant has
8less than 3,200 hours of qualifying supervised experience, time
9actively licensed as a clinical social worker shall be accepted at a
10rate of 100 hours per month up to a maximum of 1,200 hours.

11(2) Completion of the following coursework or training in or
12out of this state:

13(A) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
14in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28,
15and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

16(B) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training or coursework
17in human sexuality as specified in Section 25, and any regulations
18promulgated thereunder.

19(C) A minimum of 15 contact hours of training or coursework
20in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency, as
21specified by regulation.

22(D) A minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework or training
23in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention
24strategies.

25(3) Commencing January 1, 2014, completion of an 18-hour
26course in California law and professional ethics. The content of
27the course shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
28advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of
29minors, confidentiality, dangerous patients, psychotherapist-patient
30privilege, recordkeeping, patient access to records, state and federal
31laws related to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
32relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
33therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
34actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
35standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
36law, therapist disclosures to patients, differences in legal and ethical
37standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law
38and process.

39(4) The applicant’s license is not suspended, revoked, restricted,
40sanctioned, or voluntarily surrendered in any state.

P45   1(5) The applicant is not currently under investigation in any
2other state, and has not been charged with an offense for any act
3substantially related to the practice of social work by any public
4agency, entered into any consent agreement or been subject to an
5administrative decision that contains conditions placed by an
6agency upon an applicant’s professional conduct or practice,
7including any voluntary surrender of license, or been the subject
8of an adverse judgment resulting from the practice of social work
9that the board determines constitutes evidence of a pattern of
10incompetence or negligence.

11(6) The applicant shall provide a certification from each state
12where he or she holds a license pertaining to licensure, disciplinary
13action, and complaints pending.

14(7) The applicant is not subject to denial of licensure under
15Section 480, 4992.3, 4992.35, or 4992.36.

16(c) The board may issue a license to any person who, at the time
17of application, holds a valid, active clinical social work license
18issued by a board of clinical social work examiners or a
19corresponding authority of any state, if the person has held that
20license for at least four years immediately preceding the date of
21application, the person passes, or has passed, the licensing
22examinations as specified in Section 4996.1, and the person pays
23the required fees. Issuance of the license is conditioned upon all
24of the following:

25(1) Completion of the following coursework or training in or
26out of state:

27(A) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
28in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28,
29and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

30(B) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training or coursework
31in human sexuality as specified in Section 25, and any regulations
32promulgated thereunder.

33(C) A minimum of 15 contact hours of training or coursework
34in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency, as
35specified by regulation.

36(D) A minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework or training
37in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention
38strategies.

39(2) Commencing January 1, 2014, completion of an 18-hour
40course in California law and professional ethics. The content of
P46   1the course shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
2advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of
3minors, confidentiality, dangerous patients, psychotherapist-patient
4privilege, recordkeeping, patient access to records, state and federal
5laws related to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
6relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
7therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
8actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
9standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
10law, therapist disclosures to patients, differences in legal and ethical
11standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law
12and process.

13(3) The applicant has been licensed as a clinical social worker
14continuously for a minimum of four years prior to the date of
15application.

16(4) The applicant’s license is not suspended, revoked, restricted,
17sanctioned, or voluntarily surrendered in any state.

18(5) The applicant is not currently under investigation in any
19other state, and has not been charged with an offense for any act
20substantially related to the practice of social work by any public
21agency, entered into any consent agreement or been subject to an
22administrative decision that contains conditions placed by an
23agency upon an applicant’s professional conduct or practice,
24including any voluntary surrender of license, or been the subject
25of an adverse judgment resulting from the practice of social work
26that the board determines constitutes evidence of a pattern of
27incompetence or negligence.

28(6) The applicant provides a certification from each state where
29he or she holds a license pertaining to licensure, disciplinary action,
30and complaints pending.

31(7) The applicant is not subject to denial of licensure under
32Section 480, 4992.3, 4992.35, or 4992.36.

33(d) Commencing January 1, 2016, an applicant who obtained
34his or her license or registration under another jurisdiction may
35apply for licensure with the board without taking the clinical
36examination specified in Section 4996.1 if the applicant obtained
37a passing score on the licensing examination set forth in regulation
38as accepted by the board.

39

SEC. 51.  

Section 4996.18 of the Business and Professions
40Code
is amended to read:

P47   1

4996.18.  

(a) A person who wishes to be credited with
2experience toward licensure requirements shall register with the
3board as an associate clinical social worker prior to obtaining that
4experience. The application shall be made on a form prescribed
5by the board.

6(b) An applicant for registration shall satisfy the following
7requirements:

8(1) Possess a master’s degree from an accredited school or
9department of social work.

10(2) Have committed no crimes or acts constituting grounds for
11denial of licensure under Section 480.

12(3) Commencing January 1, 2014, have completed training or
13 coursework, which may be embedded within more than one course,
14in California law and professional ethics for clinical social workers,
15including instruction in all of the following areas of study:

16(A) Contemporary professional ethics and statutes, regulations,
17and court decisions that delineate the scope of practice of clinical
18social work.

19(B) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations
20involved in the legal and ethical practice of clinical social work,
21including, but not limited to, family law.

22(C) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health
23professions.

24(D) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality,
25dangerous patients, and the treatment of minors with and without
26parental consent.

27(E) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between
28a practitioner’s sense of self and human values, and his or her
29professional behavior and ethics.

30(F) Differences in legal and ethical standards for different types
31of work settings.

32(G) Licensing law and process.

33(c) An applicant who possesses a master’s degree from a school
34or department of social work that is a candidate for accreditation
35by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social
36Work Education shall be eligible, and shall be required, to register
37as an associate clinical social worker in order to gain experience
38toward licensure if the applicant has not committed any crimes or
39acts that constitute grounds for denial of licensure under Section
40480. That applicant shall not, however, be eligible for examination
P48   1until the school or department of social work has received
2accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council
3on Social Work Education.

4(d) All applicants and registrants shall be at all times under the
5supervision of a supervisor who shall be responsible for ensuring
6that the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is
7consistent with the training and experience of the person being
8supervised, and who shall be responsible to the board for
9compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the
10practice of clinical social work.

11(e) Any experience obtained under the supervision of a spouse
12or relative by blood or marriage shall not be credited toward the
13required hours of supervised experience. Any experience obtained
14under the supervision of a supervisor with whom the applicant has
15a personal relationship that undermines the authority or
16effectiveness of the supervision shall not be credited toward the
17required hours of supervised experience.

18(f) An applicant who possesses a master’s degree from an
19accredited school or department of social work shall be able to
20apply experience the applicant obtained during the time the
21accredited school or department was in candidacy status by the
22Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work
23Education toward the licensure requirements, if the experience
24meets the requirements of Section 4996.23. This subdivision shall
25apply retroactively to persons who possess a master’s degree from
26an accredited school or department of social work and who
27obtained experience during the time the accredited school or
28department was in candidacy status by the Commission on
29Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education.

30(g) An applicant for registration or licensure trained in an
31educational institution outside the United States shall demonstrate
32to the satisfaction of the board that he or she possesses a master’s
33of social work degree that is equivalent to a master’s degree issued
34from a school or department of social work that is accredited by
35the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work
36Education. These applicants shall provide the board with a
37comprehensive evaluation of the degree and shall provide any
38other documentation the board deems necessary. The board has
39the authority to make the final determination as to whether a degree
P49   1meets all requirements, including, but not limited to, course
2requirements regardless of evaluation or accreditation.

3(h) A registrant shall not provide clinical social work services
4to the public for a fee, monetary or otherwise, except as an
5employee.

6(i) A registrant shall inform each client or patient prior to
7performing any professional services that he or she is unlicensed
8and is under the supervision of a licensed professional.

9

SEC. 52.  

Section 4996.23 of the Business and Professions
10Code
is amended to read:

11

4996.23.  

The experience required by subdivision (c) of Section
124996.2 shall meet the following criteria:

13(a) All persons registered with the board on and after January
141, 2002, shall have at least 3,200 hours of post-master’s degree
15supervised experience providing clinical social work services as
16permitted by Section 4996.9. At least 1,700 hours shall be gained
17under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. The
18remaining required supervised experience may be gained under
19the supervision of a licensed mental health professional acceptable
20to the board as defined by a regulation adopted by the board. This
21experience shall consist of the following:

22(1) A minimum of 2,000 hours in clinical psychosocial
23diagnosis, assessment, and treatment, including psychotherapy or
24counseling.

25(2) A maximum of 1,200 hours in client centered advocacy,
26consultation, evaluation, and research.

27(3) Of the 2,000 clinical hours required in paragraph (1), no less
28than 750 hours shall be face-to-face individual or group
29psychotherapy provided to clients in the context of clinical social
30work services.

31(4) A minimum of two years of supervised experience is required
32to be obtained over a period of not less than 104 weeks and shall
33have been gained within the six years immediately preceding the
34date on which the application for licensure was filed.

35(5) Experience shall not be credited for more than 40 hours in
36any week.

37(b) “Supervision” means responsibility for, and control of, the
38quality of clinical social work services being provided.
39Consultation or peer discussion shall not be considered to be
40supervision.

P50   1(c) (1) Prior to the commencement of supervision, a supervisor
2shall comply with all requirements enumerated in Section 1870 of
3Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations and shall sign under
4penalty of perjury the “Responsibility Statement for Supervisors
5of an Associate Clinical Social Worker” form.

6(2) Supervised experience shall include at least one hour of
7direct supervisor contact for a minimum of 104 weeks. For
8purposes of this subdivision, “one hour of direct supervisor contact”
9means one hour per week of face-to-face contact on an individual
10basis or two hours of face-to-face contact in a group conducted
11within the same week as the hours claimed.

12(3) An associate shall receive at least one additional hour of
13direct supervisor contact for every week in which more than 10
14hours of face-to-face psychotherapy is performed in each setting
15in which experience is gained. No more than five hours of
16supervision, whether individual or group, shall be credited during
17any single week.

18(4) Group supervision shall be provided in a group of not more
19than eight supervisees and shall be provided in segments lasting
20no less than one continuous hour.

21(5) Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall
22be individual supervision, and of the 52 weeks of required
23individual supervision, not less than 13 weeks shall be supervised
24by a licensed clinical social worker.

25(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), an associate clinical social
26worker working for a governmental entity, school, college, or
27university, or an institution that is both a nonprofit and charitable
28institution, may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor
29contact via live two-way videoconferencing. The supervisor shall
30be responsible for ensuring that client confidentiality is preserved.

31(d) The supervisor and the associate shall develop a supervisory
32plan that describes the goals and objectives of supervision. These
33goals shall include the ongoing assessment of strengths and
34limitations and the assurance of practice in accordance with the
35laws and regulations. The associate shall submit to the board the
36initial original supervisory plan upon application for licensure.

37(e) Experience shall only be gained in a setting that meets both
38of the following:

39(1) Lawfully and regularly provides clinical social work, mental
40health counseling, or psychotherapy.

P51   1(2) Provides oversight to ensure that the associate’s work at the
2setting meets the experience and supervision requirements set forth
3in this chapter and is within the scope of practice for the profession
4as defined in Section 4996.9.

5(f) Experience shall not be gained until the applicant has been
6registered as an associate clinical social worker.

7(g) Employment in a private practice as defined in subdivision
8(h) shall not commence until the applicant has been registered as
9an associate clinical social worker.

10(h) A private practice setting is a setting that is owned by a
11licensed clinical social worker, a licensed marriage and family
12 therapist, a licensed psychologist, a licensed physician and surgeon,
13or a professional corporation of any of those licensed professions.

14(i) Experience shall not be gained by an associate for work
15performed as an independent contractor or reported on an IRS
16Form 1099.

17(j) If volunteering, the associate shall provide the board with a
18letter from his or her employer verifying his or her voluntary status
19upon application for licensure.

20(k) If employed, the associate shall provide the board with copies
21of his or her W-2 tax forms for each year of experience claimed
22upon application for licensure.

23(l) While an associate may be either a paid employee or
24volunteer, employers are encouraged to provide fair remuneration
25to associates.

26(m) An associate shall not do the following:

27(1) Receive any remuneration from patients or clients and shall
28only be paid by his or her employer.

29(2) Have any proprietary interest in the employer’s business.

30(3) Lease or rent space, pay for furnishings, equipment, or
31supplies, or in any other way pay for the obligations of his or her
32employer.

33(n) An associate, whether employed or volunteering, may obtain
34supervision from a person not employed by the associate’s
35employer if that person has signed a written agreement with the
36employer to take supervisory responsibility for the associate’s
37social work services.

38(o) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, associates and
39applicants for examination shall receive a minimum of one hour
P52   1of supervision per week for each setting in which he or she is
2working.

3

SEC. 53.  

Section 4996.28 of the Business and Professions
4Code
is amended to read:

5

4996.28.  

(a) Registration as an associate clinical social worker
6shall expire one year from the last day of the month during which
7it was issued. To renew a registration, the registrant shall, on or
8before the expiration date of the registration, complete all of the
9following actions:

10(1) Apply for renewal on a form prescribed by the board.

11(2) Pay a renewal fee prescribed by the board.

12(3) Notify the board whether he or she has been convicted, as
13defined in Section 490, of a misdemeanor or felony, and whether
14any disciplinary action has been taken by a regulatory or licensing
15board in this or any other state, subsequent to the last renewal of
16the registration.

17(4) On and after January 1, 2016, obtain a passing score on the
18California law and ethics examination pursuant to Section 4992.09.

19(b) A registration as an associate clinical social worker may be
20renewed a maximum of five times. When no further renewals are
21possible, an applicant may apply for and obtain a new associate
22clinical social worker registration if the applicant meets all
23requirements for registration in effect at the time of his or her
24application for a new associate clinical social worker registration.
25An applicant issued a subsequent associate registration pursuant
26to this subdivision may be employed or volunteer in any allowable
27work setting except private practice.

28

SEC. 54.  

Section 4999.20 of the Business and Professions
29Code
is amended to read:

30

4999.20.  

(a) (1) “Professional clinical counseling” means the
31application of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic
32techniques to identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and
33emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to
34disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental
35problems, and the use, application, and integration of the
36coursework and training required by Sections 4999.32 and 4999.33.
37“Professional clinical counseling” includes conducting assessments
38for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and objectives to
39empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce
P53   1stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make
2well-informed, rational decisions.

3(2) “Professional clinical counseling” is focused exclusively on
4the application of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic
5techniques for the purposes of improving mental health, and is not
6intended to capture other, nonclinical forms of counseling for the
7purposes of licensure. For purposes of this paragraph, “nonclinical”
8means nonmental health.

9(3) “Professional clinical counseling” does not include the
10assessment or treatment of couples or families unless the
11professional clinical counselor has completed all of the following
12additional training and education, beyond the minimum training
13and education required for licensure:

14(A) One of the following:

15(i) Six semester units or nine quarter units specifically focused
16on the theory and application of marriage and family therapy.

17(ii) A named specialization or emphasis area on the qualifying
18degree in marriage and family therapy; marital and family therapy;
19marriage, family, and child counseling; or couple and family
20therapy.

21(B) No less than 500 hours of documented supervised experience
22working directly with couples, families, or children.

23(C) A minimum of six hours of continuing education specific
24to marriage and family therapy, completed in each license renewal
25cycle.

26(4) “Professional clinical counseling” does not include the
27provision of clinical social work services.

28(b) “Counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques”
29means the application of cognitive, affective, verbal or nonverbal,
30systemic or holistic counseling strategies that include principles
31of development, wellness, and maladjustment that reflect a
32pluralistic society. These interventions and techniques are
33specifically implemented in the context of a professional clinical
34counseling relationship and use a variety of counseling theories
35and approaches.

36(c) “Assessment” means selecting, administering, scoring, and
37interpreting tests, instruments, and other tools and methods
38designed to measure an individual’s attitudes, abilities, aptitudes,
39achievements, interests, personal characteristics, disabilities, and
40mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns and development and
P54   1the use of methods and techniques for understanding human
2behavior in relation to coping with, adapting to, or ameliorating
3changing life situations, as part of the counseling process.
4“Assessment” shall not include the use of projective techniques
5in the assessment of personality, individually administered
6intelligence tests, neuropsychological testing, or utilization of a
7battery of three or more tests to determine the presence of
8psychosis, dementia, amnesia, cognitive impairment, or criminal
9behavior.

10(d) Professional clinical counselors shall refer clients to other
11licensed health care professionals when they identify issues beyond
12their own scope of education, training, and experience.

13

SEC. 55.  

Section 4999.33 of the Business and Professions
14Code
is amended to read:

15

4999.33.  

(a) This section shall apply to the following:

16(1) Applicants for examination eligibility or registration who
17begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and do not complete
18that study on or before December 31, 2018.

19(2) Applicants for examination eligibility or registration who
20begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and who graduate
21from a degree program that meets the requirements of this section.

22(3) Applicants for examination eligibility or registration who
23begin graduate study on or after August 1, 2012.

24(b) To qualify for examination eligibility or registration,
25 applicants shall possess a master’s or doctoral degree that is
26counseling or psychotherapy in content and that meets the
27requirements of this section, obtained from an accredited or
28approved institution, as defined in Section 4999.12. For purposes
29of this subdivision, a degree is “counseling or psychotherapy in
30content” if it contains the supervised practicum or field study
31experience described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) and, except
32as provided in subdivision (f), the coursework in the core content
33areas listed in subparagraphs (A) to (M), inclusive, of paragraph
34(1) of subdivision (c).

35(c) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall contain not
36less than 60 graduate semester or 90 graduate quarter units of
37instruction, which shall, except as provided in subdivision (f),
38include all of the following:

P55   1(1) The equivalent of at least three semester units or four and
2 one-half quarter units of graduate study in all of the following core
3content areas:

4(A) Counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques,
5including the counseling process in a multicultural society, an
6orientation to wellness and prevention, counseling theories to assist
7in selection of appropriate counseling interventions, models of
8counseling consistent with current professional research and
9practice, development of a personal model of counseling, and
10multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, and disasters.

11(B) Human growth and development across the lifespan,
12including normal and abnormal behavior and an understanding of
13developmental crises, disability, psychopathology, and situational
14and environmental factors that affect both normal and abnormal
15behavior.

16(C) Career development theories and techniques, including
17career development decisionmaking models and interrelationships
18among and between work, family, and other life roles and factors,
19including the role of multicultural issues in career development.

20(D) Group counseling theories and techniques, including
21principles of group dynamics, group process components, group
22developmental stage theories, therapeutic factors of group work,
23group leadership styles and approaches, pertinent research and
24literature, group counseling methods, and evaluation of
25effectiveness.

26(E) Assessment, appraisal, and testing of individuals, including
27basic concepts of standardized and nonstandardized testing and
28other assessment techniques, norm-referenced and
29criterion-referenced assessment, statistical concepts, social and
30cultural factors related to assessment and evaluation of individuals
31and groups, and ethical strategies for selecting, administering, and
32interpreting assessment instruments and techniques in counseling.

33(F) Multicultural counseling theories and techniques, including
34counselors’ roles in developing cultural self-awareness, identity
35development, promoting cultural social justice, individual and
36community strategies for working with and advocating for diverse
37populations, and counselors’ roles in eliminating biases and
38prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional
39oppression and discrimination.

P56   1(G) Principles of the diagnostic process, including differential
2diagnosis, and the use of current diagnostic tools, such as the
3current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the impact
4of co-occurring substance use disorders or medical psychological
5disorders, established diagnostic criteria for mental or emotional
6disorders, and the treatment modalities and placement criteria
7within the continuum of care.

8(H) Research and evaluation, including studies that provide an
9understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, the use of
10research to inform evidence-based practice, the importance of
11research in advancing the profession of counseling, and statistical
12methods used in conducting research, needs assessment, and
13program evaluation.

14(I) Professional orientation, ethics, and law in counseling,
15including California law and professional ethics for professional
16clinical counselors, professional ethical standards and legal
17considerations, licensing law and process, regulatory laws that
18delineate the profession’s scope of practice, counselor-client
19privilege, confidentiality, the client dangerous to self or others,
20treatment of minors with or without parental consent, relationship
21between practitioner’s sense of self and human values, functions
22and relationships with other human service providers, strategies
23for collaboration, and advocacy processes needed to address
24institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and
25success for clients.

26(J) Psychopharmacology, including the biological bases of
27behavior, basic classifications, indications, and contraindications
28of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications so
29that appropriate referrals can be made for medication evaluations
30and so that the side effects of those medications can be identified.

31(K) Addictions counseling, including substance abuse,
32co-occurring disorders, and addiction, major approaches to
33identification, evaluation, treatment, and prevention of substance
34abuse and addiction, legal and medical aspects of substance abuse,
35populations at risk, the role of support persons, support systems,
36and community resources.

37(L) Crisis or trauma counseling, including crisis theory;
38multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, or disasters;
39cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological effects associated
40with trauma; brief, intermediate, and long-term approaches; and
P57   1assessment strategies for clients in crisis and principles of
2intervention for individuals with mental or emotional disorders
3during times of crisis, emergency, or disaster.

4(M) Advanced counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and
5techniques, including the application of counseling constructs,
6assessment and treatment planning, clinical interventions,
7therapeutic relationships, psychopathology, or other clinical topics.

8(2) In addition to the course requirements described in paragraph
9(1), 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units of advanced coursework
10to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues or special
11populations.

12(3) Not less than six semester units or nine quarter units of
13supervised practicum or field study experience, or the equivalent,
14in a clinical setting that provides a range of professional clinical
15counseling experience, including the following:

16(A) Applied psychotherapeutic techniques.

17(B) Assessment.

18(C) Diagnosis.

19(D) Prognosis.

20(E) Treatment.

21(F) Issues of development, adjustment, and maladjustment.

22(G) Health and wellness promotion.

23(H) Professional writing including documentation of services,
24treatment plans, and progress notes.

25(I) How to find and use resources.

26(J) Other recognized counseling interventions.

27(K) A minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face supervised clinical
28experience counseling individuals, families, or groups.

29(d) The 60 graduate semester units or 90 graduate quarter units
30of instruction required pursuant to subdivision (c) shall, in addition
31to meeting the requirements of subdivision (c), include instruction
32in all of the following:

33(1) The understanding of human behavior within the social
34context of socioeconomic status and other contextual issues
35affecting social position.

36(2) The understanding of human behavior within the social
37context of a representative variety of the cultures found within
38California.

P58   1(3) Cultural competency and sensitivity, including a familiarity
2with the racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds of
3persons living in California.

4(4) An understanding of the effects of socioeconomic status on
5treatment and available resources.

6(5) Multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction,
7including experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual
8orientation, gender, and disability and their incorporation into the
9psychotherapeutic process.

10(6) Case management, systems of care for the severely mentally
11ill, public and private services for the severely mentally ill,
12community resources for victims of abuse, disaster and trauma
13response, advocacy for the severely mentally ill, and collaborative
14treatment. The instruction required in this paragraph may be
15provided either in credit level coursework or through extension
16programs offered by the degree-granting institution.

17(7) Human sexuality, including the study of the physiological,
18psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual
19behavior, gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of
20psychosexual dysfunction.

21(8) Spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention
22strategies, and same gender abuse dynamics.

23(9) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
24in child abuse assessment and reporting, as specified in Section
2528, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

26(10) Aging and long-term care, including biological, social,
27cognitive, and psychological aspects of aging. This coursework
28shall include instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as
29well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and
30neglect.

31(e) A degree program that qualifies for licensure under this
32section shall do all of the following:

33(1) Integrate the principles of mental health recovery-oriented
34care and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
35environments.

36(2) Integrate an understanding of various cultures and the social
37and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

38(3) Provide the opportunity for students to meet with various
39consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
P59   1services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental
2illness, treatment, and recovery.

3(f) (1) An applicant whose degree is deficient in no more than
4three of the required areas of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to
5(M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) may satisfy
6those deficiencies by successfully completing post-master’s or
7postdoctoral degree coursework at an accredited or approved
8institution, as defined in Section 4999.12.

9(2) Coursework taken to meet deficiencies in the required areas
10of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to (M), inclusive, of paragraph
11(1) of subdivision (c) shall be the equivalent of three semester units
12or four and one-half quarter units of study.

13(3) The board shall make the final determination as to whether
14a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to,
15course requirements, regardless of accreditation.

16

SEC. 56.  

Section 4999.45 of the Business and Professions
17Code
, as amended by Section 62 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
182012, is amended to read:

19

4999.45.  

An intern employed under this chapter shall:

20(a) Not perform any duties, except for those services provided
21as a clinical counselor trainee, until registered as an intern.

22(b) Not be employed or volunteer in a private practice until
23registered as an intern.

24(c) Inform each client prior to performing any professional
25services that he or she is unlicensed and under supervision.

26(d) Renew annually for a maximum of five years after initial
27registration with the board.

28(e) When no further renewals are possible, an applicant may
29 apply for and obtain a new intern registration if the applicant meets
30the educational requirements for registration in effect at the time
31of the application for a new intern registration. An applicant issued
32a subsequent intern registration pursuant to this subdivision may
33be employed or volunteer in any allowable work setting except
34private practice.

35(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
36and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
37is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

38

SEC. 57.  

Section 4999.45 of the Business and Professions
39Code
, as amended by Section 63 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
402012, is amended to read:

P60   1

4999.45.  

(a) An intern employed under this chapter shall:

2(1) Not perform any duties, except for those services provided
3as a clinical counselor trainee, until registered as an intern.

4(2) Not be employed or volunteer in a private practice until
5registered as an intern.

6(3) Inform each client prior to performing any professional
7services that he or she is unlicensed and under supervision.

8(4) Renew annually for a maximum of five years after initial
9registration with the board.

10(b) When no further renewals are possible, an applicant may
11apply for and obtain a new intern registration if the applicant meets
12the educational requirements for registration in effect at the time
13of the application for a new intern registration and has passed the
14California law and ethics examination described in Section
154999.53. An applicant issued a subsequent intern registration
16pursuant to this subdivision may be employed or volunteer in any
17allowable work setting except private practice.

18(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

19

SEC. 58.  

Section 4999.46 of the Business and Professions
20Code
, as amended by Section 64 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
212012, is amended to read:

22

4999.46.  

(a) To qualify for the licensure examinations specified
23in subdivision (c) of Section 4999.52, applicants shall complete
24clinical mental health experience under the general supervision of
25an approved supervisor as defined in Section 4999.12.

26(b) The experience shall include a minimum of 3,000 postdegree
27hours of supervised clinical mental health experience related to
28the practice of professional clinical counseling, performed over a
29period of not less than two years (104 weeks), which shall include:

30(1) Not more than 40 hours in any seven consecutive days.

31(2) Not less than 1,750 hours of direct counseling with
32individuals or groups in a setting described in Section 4999.44
33using a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques and recognized
34counseling interventions within the scope of practice of licensed
35professional clinical counselors.

36(3) Not more than 500 hours of experience providing group
37therapy or group counseling.

38(4) Not more than 375 hours of experience providing personal
39psychotherapy, crisis counseling, or other counseling services via
40telehealth in accordance with Section 2290.5.

P61   1(5) Not less than 150 hours of clinical experience in a hospital
2or community mental health setting, as defined in Section 1820 of
3Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.

4(6) Not more than a combined total of 1,250 hours of experience
5in the following related activities:

6(A) Direct supervisor contact.

7(B) Client centered advocacy.

8(C) Not more than 250 hours of experience administering tests
9and evaluating psychological tests of clients, writing clinical
10reports, writing progress notes, or writing process notes.

11(D) Not more than 250 hours of verified attendance at
12workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences directly
13related to professional clinical counseling that are approved by the
14applicant’s supervisor.

15(c) No hours of clinical mental health experience may be gained
16more than six years prior to the date the application for examination
17eligibility was filed.

18(d) An applicant shall register with the board as an intern in
19order to be credited for postdegree hours of experience toward
20licensure. Postdegree hours of experience shall be credited toward
21licensure, provided that the applicant applies for intern registration
22within 90 days of the granting of the qualifying degree and is
23registered as an intern by the board.

24(e) All applicants and interns shall be at all times under the
25supervision of a supervisor who shall be responsible for ensuring
26that the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is
27consistent with the training and experience of the person being
28supervised, and who shall be responsible to the board for
29compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the
30practice of professional clinical counseling.

31(f) Experience obtained under the supervision of a spouse or
32relative by blood or marriage shall not be credited toward the
33required hours of supervised experience. Experience obtained
34under the supervision of a supervisor with whom the applicant has
35had or currently has a personal, professional, or business
36relationship that undermines the authority or effectiveness of the
37supervision shall not be credited toward the required hours of
38supervised experience.

39(g) Except for experience gained pursuant to subparagraph (D)
40of paragraph (6) of subdivision (b), supervision shall include at
P62   1least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which
2experience is credited in each work setting.

3(1) No more than five hours of supervision, whether individual
4or group, shall be credited during any single week.

5(2) An intern shall receive at least one additional hour of direct
6supervisor contact for every week in which more than 10 hours of
7face-to-face psychotherapy is performed in each setting in which
8experience is gained.

9(3) For purposes of this section, “one hour of direct supervisor
10contact” means one hour of face-to-face contact on an individual
11basis or two hours of face-to-face contact in a group of not more
12than eight persons in segments lasting no less than one continuous
13hour.

14(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), an intern working in a
15governmental entity, a school, a college, or a university, or an
16institution that is both nonprofit and charitable, may obtain the
17required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time
18videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring
19that client confidentiality is upheld.

20(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
21and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
22is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

23

SEC. 59.  

Section 4999.46 of the Business and Professions
24 Code
, as amended by Section 65 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
252012, is amended to read:

26

4999.46.  

(a) To qualify for the licensure examination specified
27by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4999.53, applicants
28shall complete clinical mental health experience under the general
29supervision of an approved supervisor as defined in Section
304999.12.

31(b) The experience shall include a minimum of 3,000 postdegree
32hours of supervised clinical mental health experience related to
33the practice of professional clinical counseling, performed over a
34period of not less than two years (104 weeks), which shall include:

35(1) Not more than 40 hours in any seven consecutive days.

36(2) Not less than 1,750 hours of direct counseling with
37 individuals or groups in a setting described in Section 4999.44
38using a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques and recognized
39counseling interventions within the scope of practice of licensed
40professional clinical counselors.

P63   1(3) Not more than 500 hours of experience providing group
2therapy or group counseling.

3(4) Not more than 375 hours of experience providing personal
4psychotherapy, crisis counseling, or other counseling services via
5telehealth in accordance with Section 2290.5.

6(5) Not less than 150 hours of clinical experience in a hospital
7or community mental health setting, as defined in Section 1820 of
8Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.

9(6) Not more than a combined total of 1,250 hours of experience
10in the following related activities:

11(A) Direct supervisor contact.

12(B) Client centered advocacy.

13(C) Not more than 250 hours of experience administering tests
14and evaluating psychological tests of clients, writing clinical
15reports, writing progress notes, or writing process notes.

16(D) Not more than 250 hours of verified attendance at
17workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences directly
18related to professional clinical counseling that are approved by the
19applicant’s supervisor.

20(c) No hours of clinical mental health experience may be gained
21more than six years prior to the date the application for examination
22eligibility was filed.

23(d) An applicant shall register with the board as an intern in
24order to be credited for postdegree hours of experience toward
25licensure. Postdegree hours of experience shall be credited toward
26licensure, provided that the applicant applies for intern registration
27within 90 days of the granting of the qualifying degree and is
28registered as an intern by the board.

29(e) All applicants and interns shall be at all times under the
30supervision of a supervisor who shall be responsible for ensuring
31that the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is
32consistent with the training and experience of the person being
33supervised, and who shall be responsible to the board for
34compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the
35practice of professional clinical counseling.

36(f) Experience obtained under the supervision of a spouse or
37relative by blood or marriage shall not be credited toward the
38required hours of supervised experience. Experience obtained
39under the supervision of a supervisor with whom the applicant has
40had or currently has a personal, professional, or business
P64   1relationship that undermines the authority or effectiveness of the
2supervision shall not be credited toward the required hours of
3supervised experience.

4(g) Except for experience gained pursuant to subparagraph (D)
5of paragraph (6) of subdivision (b), supervision shall include at
6least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which
7experience is credited in each work setting.

8(1) No more than five hours of supervision, whether individual
9or group, shall be credited during any single week.

10(2) An intern shall receive at least one additional hour of direct
11supervisor contact for every week in which more than 10 hours of
12face-to-face psychotherapy is performed in each setting in which
13experience is gained.

14(3) For purposes of this section, “one hour of direct supervisor
15contact” means one hour of face-to-face contact on an individual
16basis or two hours of face-to-face contact in a group of not more
17than eight persons in segments lasting no less than one continuous
18hour.

19(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), an intern working in a
20governmental entity, a school, a college, or a university, or an
21institution that is both nonprofit and charitable, may obtain the
22required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time
23videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring
24that client confidentiality is upheld.

25(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

26

SEC. 60.  

Section 4999.47 of the Business and Professions
27Code
is amended to read:

28

4999.47.  

(a) Clinical counselor trainees, interns, and applicants
29shall perform services only as an employee or as a volunteer.

30The requirements of this chapter regarding gaining hours of
31clinical mental health experience and supervision are applicable
32equally to employees and volunteers. Experience shall not be
33gained by interns or trainees for work performed as an independent
34contractor or reported on an IRS Form 1099.

35(1) If employed, a clinical counselor intern shall provide the
36board with copies of the corresponding W-2 tax forms for each
37year of experience claimed upon application for licensure as a
38professional clinical counselor.

39(2) If volunteering, a clinical counselor intern shall provide the
40board with a letter from his or her employer verifying the intern’s
P65   1employment as a volunteer upon application for licensure as a
2professional clinical counselor.

3(b) Clinical counselor trainees, interns, and applicants shall not
4receive any remuneration from patients or clients, and shall only
5be paid by their employers.

6(c) While an intern may be either a paid employee or a volunteer,
7employers are encouraged to provide fair remuneration.

8(d) Clinical counselor trainees, interns, and applicants who
9provide voluntary services or other services, and who receive no
10more than a total, from all work settings, of five hundred dollars
11($500) per month as reimbursement for expenses actually incurred
12by those clinical counselor trainees, interns, and applicants for
13services rendered in any lawful work setting other than a private
14practice shall be considered an employee and not an independent
15contractor.

16(e) The board may audit an intern or applicant who receives
17reimbursement for expenses and the intern or applicant shall have
18the burden of demonstrating that the payments received were for
19reimbursement of expenses actually incurred.

20(f) Clinical counselor trainees, interns, and applicants shall only
21perform services at the place where their employer regularly
22conducts business and services, which may include other locations,
23as long as the services are performed under the direction and
24control of the employer and supervisor in compliance with the
25laws and regulations pertaining to supervision. Clinical counselor
26trainees, interns, and applicants shall have no proprietary interest
27in the employer’s business.

28(g) Each educational institution preparing applicants for
29licensure pursuant to this chapter shall consider requiring, and
30shall encourage, its students to undergo individual, marital or
31conjoint, family, or group counseling or psychotherapy, as
32appropriate. Each supervisor shall consider, advise, and encourage
33his or her interns and clinical counselor trainees regarding the
34advisability of undertaking individual, marital or conjoint, family,
35or group counseling or psychotherapy, as appropriate. Insofar as
36it is deemed appropriate and is desired by the applicant, the
37educational institution and supervisors are encouraged to assist
38the applicant in locating that counseling or psychotherapy at a
39reasonable cost.

P66   1

SEC. 61.  

Section 4999.50 of the Business and Professions
2Code
, as amended by Section 66 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
32012, is amended to read:

4

4999.50.  

(a) The board may issue a professional clinical
5counselor license to any person who meets all of the following
6requirements:

7(1) He or she has received a master’s or doctoral degree
8described in Section 4999.32 or 4999.33, as applicable.

9(2) He or she has completed at least 3,000 hours of supervised
10experience in the practice of professional clinical counseling as
11provided in Section 4999.46.

12(3) He or she provides evidence of a passing score, as
13determined by the board, on examinations designated by the board
14pursuant to Section 4999.52.

15(b) An applicant who has satisfied the requirements of this
16chapter shall be issued a license as a professional clinical counselor
17in the form that the board may deem appropriate.

18(c) The board shall begin accepting applications for examination
19eligibility on January 1, 2012.

20(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
21and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
22is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

23

SEC. 62.  

Section 4999.50 of the Business and Professions
24Code
, as amended by Section 67 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
252012, is amended to read:

26

4999.50.  

(a) The board may issue a professional clinical
27counselor license to any person who meets all of the following
28requirements:

29(1) He or she has received a master’s or doctoral degree
30described in Section 4999.32 or 4999.33, as applicable.

31(2) He or she has completed at least 3,000 hours of supervised
32experience in the practice of professional clinical counseling as
33provided in Section 4999.46.

34(3) He or she provides evidence of a passing score, as
35determined by the board, on the examinations designated in Section
364999.53.

37(b) An applicant who has satisfied the requirements of this
38chapter shall be issued a license as a professional clinical counselor
39in the form that the board may deem appropriate.

40(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

P67   1

SEC. 63.  

Section 4999.52 of the Business and Professions
2Code
, as amended by Section 10 of Chapter 800 of the Statutes of
32012, is amended to read:

4

4999.52.  

(a) Except as provided in Section 4999.54, every
5applicant for a license as a professional clinical counselor shall be
6examined by the board. The board shall examine the candidate
7with regard to his or her knowledge and professional skills and his
8or her judgment in the utilization of appropriate techniques and
9methods.

10(b) The examinations shall be given at least twice a year at a
11time and place and under supervision as the board may determine.

12(c) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that national licensing
13examinations, such as the National Counselor Examination for
14Licensure and Certification (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental
15Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE), be evaluated by the
16board as requirements for licensure as a professional clinical
17counselor.

18(2) The board shall evaluate various national examinations in
19order to determine whether they meet the prevailing standards for
20the validation and use of licensing and certification tests in
21California.

22(3) The Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Professional
23Examination Services shall review the occupational analysis that
24was used for developing the national examinations in order to
25determine if it adequately describes the licensing group and
26adequately determines the tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities
27the licensed professional clinical counselor would need to perform
28the functions under this chapter.

29(4) Examinations shall measure knowledge and abilities
30demonstrably important to the safe, effective practice of the
31profession.

32(5) If national examinations do not meet the standards specified
33in paragraph (2), the board may require a passing score on either
34of the following:

35(A) The national examinations plus one or more
36board-developed examinations.

37(B) One or more board-developed examinations.

38(6) If the board decides to require a national examination
39specified in paragraph (1), a passing score on this examination
P68   1shall be accepted by the board for a period of seven years from
2the date the examination was taken.

3(7) If the board decides to require the examinations specified
4in paragraph (5), a passing score on these examinations shall be
5accepted by the board for a period of seven years from the date
6the examination was taken.

7(8) The licensing examinations shall also incorporate a
8California law and ethics examination element that is acceptable
9to the board, or, as an alternative, the board may develop a separate
10California law and ethics examination.

11(d) The board shall not deny any applicant who has submitted
12a complete application for examination admission to the licensure
13examinations required by this section if the applicant meets the
14educational and experience requirements of this chapter, and has
15not committed any acts or engaged in any conduct that would
16constitute grounds to deny licensure.

17(e) The board shall not deny any applicant whose application
18for licensure is complete admission to the examinations, nor shall
19the board postpone or delay any applicant’s examinations or delay
20 informing the candidate of the results of the examinations, solely
21upon the receipt by the board of a complaint alleging acts or
22conduct that would constitute grounds to deny licensure.

23(f) If an applicant for examination is the subject of a complaint
24or is under board investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven
25to be true, would constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure,
26the board shall permit the applicant to take the examinations, but
27may notify the applicant that licensure will not be granted pending
28completion of the investigation.

29(g) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any
30applicant who has previously failed an examination permission to
31retake that examination pending completion of the investigation
32of any complaints against the applicant.

33(h) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from denying
34an applicant admission to any examination, withholding the results,
35or refusing to issue a license to any applicant when an accusation
36or statement of issues has been filed against the applicant pursuant
37to Section 11503 or 11504 of the Government Code, respectively,
38or the application has been denied in accordance with subdivision
39(b) of Section 485.

P69   1(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may
2destroy all examination materials two years following the date of
3an examination.

4(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
5and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
6 is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

7

SEC. 64.  

Section 4999.52 of the Business and Professions
8Code
, as amended by Section 11 of Chapter 800 of the Statutes of
92012, is amended to read:

10

4999.52.  

(a) Except as provided in Section 4999.54, every
11applicant for a license as a professional clinical counselor shall be
12examined by the board. The board shall examine the candidate
13with regard to his or her knowledge and professional skills and his
14or her judgment in the utilization of appropriate techniques and
15methods.

16(b) The examinations shall be given at least twice a year at a
17time and place and under supervision as the board may determine.

18(c) The board shall not deny any applicant who has submitted
19a complete application for examination admission to the licensure
20examinations required by this section if the applicant meets the
21educational and experience requirements of this chapter, and has
22not committed any acts or engaged in any conduct that would
23constitute grounds to deny licensure.

24(d) The board shall not deny any applicant whose application
25for licensure is complete admission to the examinations specified
26by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4999.53, nor shall
27the board postpone or delay this examination for any applicant or
28delay informing the candidate of the results of this examination,
29solely upon the receipt by the board of a complaint alleging acts
30or conduct that would constitute grounds to deny licensure.

31(e) If an applicant for the examination specified by paragraph
32(2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4999.53, who has passed the
33California law and ethics examination, is the subject of a complaint
34or is under board investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven
35to be true, would constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure,
36the board shall permit the applicant to take this examination, but
37may notify the applicant that licensure will not be granted pending
38completion of the investigation.

39(f) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any
40applicant who has previously failed either the California law and
P70   1ethics examination, or the examination specified by paragraph (2)
2of subdivision (a) of Section 4999.53, permission to retake either
3examination pending completion of the investigation of any
4complaints against the applicant.

5(g) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from denying
6an applicant admission to any examination, withholding the results,
7or refusing to issue a license to any applicant when an accusation
8or statement of issues has been filed against the applicant pursuant
9to Section 11503 or 11504 of the Government Code, respectively,
10or the application has been denied in accordance with subdivision
11(b) of Section 485.

12(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may
13destroy all examination materials two years following the date of
14an examination.

15(i) On and after January 1, 2016, the examination specified by
16paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4999.53 shall be passed
17within seven years of an applicant’s initial attempt.

18(j) A passing score on the clinical examination shall be accepted
19by the board for a period of seven years from the date the
20examination was taken.

21(k) No applicant shall be eligible to participate in the
22examination specified by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of
23Section 4999.53, if he or she fails to obtain a passing score on this
24examination within seven years from his or her initial attempt. If
25the applicant fails to obtain a passing score within seven years of
26initial attempt, he or she shall obtain a passing score on the current
27version of the California law and ethics examination in order to
28be eligible to retake this examination.

29(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

30

SEC. 65.  

Section 4999.53 of the Business and Professions
31Code
is amended to read:

32

4999.53.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, a clinical counselor
33intern applying for licensure as a clinical counselor shall pass the
34following examinations as prescribed by the board:

35(1) A California law and ethics examination.

36(2) A clinical examination administered by the board, or the
37National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination if the
38board finds that this examination meets the prevailing standards
39for validation and use of the licensing and certification tests in
40California.

P71   1(b) Upon registration with the board, a clinical counselor intern
2shall, within the first year of registration, take an examination on
3California law and ethics.

4(c) A registrant may take the clinical examination or the National
5Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination, as established by
6the board through regulation, only upon meeting all of the
7following requirements:

8(1) Completion of all required supervised work experience.

9(2) Completion of all education requirements.

10(3) Passage of the California law and ethics examination.

11(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

12

SEC. 66.  

Section 4999.55 of the Business and Professions
13Code
is amended to read:

14

4999.55.  

(a) Each applicant and registrant shall obtain a
15passing score on a board-administered California law and ethics
16examination in order to qualify for licensure.

17(b) A registrant shall participate in a board-administered
18California law and ethics examination prior to his or her registration
19renewal.

20(c) If an applicant fails the California law and ethics exam, he
21or she may retake the examination, upon payment of the required
22fees, without further application, except as provided in subdivision
23(d).

24(d) If a registrant fails to obtain a passing score on the California
25law and ethics examination described in subdivision (a) within his
26 or her first renewal period on or after the operative date of this
27section, he or she shall complete, at minimum, a 12-hour course
28in California law and ethics in order to be eligible to participate
29in the California law and ethics examination. Registrants shall only
30take the 12-hour California law and ethics course once during a
31renewal period. The 12-hour law and ethics course required by
32this section shall be taken through a board-approved continuing
33education provider, a county, state, or governmental entity, or a
34college or university.

35(e) The board shall not issue a subsequent registration number
36unless the registrant has passed the California law and ethics
37examination.

38(f) This section shall become operative January 1, 2016.

39

SEC. 67.  

Section 4999.60 of the Business and Professions
40Code
is amended to read:

P72   1

4999.60.  

(a) This section applies to persons who are licensed
2outside of California and apply for examination eligibility on or
3after January 1, 2014.

4(b) The board may issue a license to a person who, at the time
5of submitting an application for a license pursuant to this chapter,
6holds a valid license as a professional clinical counselor, or other
7counseling license that allows the applicant to independently
8provide clinical mental health services, in another jurisdiction of
9the United States if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

10(1) The applicant’s education is substantially equivalent, as
11defined in Section 4999.62.

12(2) The applicant complies with subdivision (b) of Section
134999.40, if applicable.

14(3) The applicant’s supervised experience is substantially
15equivalent to that required for a license under this chapter. If the
16applicant has less than 3,000 hours of qualifying supervised
17experience, time actively licensed as a professional clinical
18counselor shall be accepted at a rate of 100 hours per month up to
19a maximum of 1,200 hours.

20(4) The applicant passes the examinations required to obtain a
21license under this chapter. An applicant who obtained his or her
22license or registration under another jurisdiction may apply for
23licensure with the board without taking the clinical examination
24if both of the following conditions are met:

25(A) The applicant obtained a passing score on the licensing
26examination set forth in regulation as accepted by the board.

27(B) The applicant’s license or registration in that jurisdiction is
28in good standing at the time of his or her application and has not
29been revoked, suspended, surrendered, denied, or otherwise
30restricted or encumbered as a result of any disciplinary proceeding
31brought by the licensing authority of that jurisdiction.

32

SEC. 68.  

Section 4999.64 of the Business and Professions
33Code
is amended to read:

34

4999.64.  

(a) Effective January 1, 2016, an applicant who fails
35the examination specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of
36Section 4999.53 may, within one year from the notification date
37of that failure, retake the examination as regularly scheduled
38without further application upon payment of the fee for the
39examination. Thereafter, the applicant shall not be eligible for
40further examination until he or she files a new application, meets
P73   1all requirements in effect on the date of application, and pays all
2required fees.

3(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

4

SEC. 69.  

Section 4999.100 of the Business and Professions
5Code
, as amended by Section 80 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
62012, is amended to read:

7

4999.100.  

(a) An intern registration shall expire one year from
8the last day of the month in which it was issued.

9(b) To renew a registration, the registrant shall, on or before the
10expiration date of the registration, do the following:

11(1) Apply for a renewal on a form prescribed by the board.

12(2) Pay a renewal fee prescribed by the board.

13(3) Notify the board whether he or she has been convicted, as
14defined in Section 490, of a misdemeanor or felony, or whether
15any disciplinary action has been taken by any regulatory or
16licensing board in this or any other state, subsequent to the
17registrant’s last renewal.

18(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
19and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
20is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

21

SEC. 70.  

Section 4999.100 of the Business and Professions
22Code
, as amended by Section 81 of Chapter 799 of the Statutes of
232012, is amended to read:

24

4999.100.  

(a) An intern registration shall expire one year from
25the last day of the month in which it was issued.

26(b) To renew a registration, the registrant shall, on or before the
27expiration date of the registration, do the following:

28(1) Apply for a renewal on a form prescribed by the board.

29(2) Pay a renewal fee prescribed by the board.

30(3) Notify the board whether he or she has been convicted, as
31defined in Section 490, of a misdemeanor or felony, or whether
32any disciplinary action has been taken by any regulatory or
33licensing board in this or any other state, subsequent to the
34registrant’s last renewal.

35(4) Participate in the California law and ethics examination
36pursuant to Section 4999.53 each year until successful completion
37of this examination.

38(c) The intern registration may be renewed a maximum of five
39times. No registration shall be renewed or reinstated beyond six
40years from the last day of the month during which it was issued,
P74   1regardless of whether it has been revoked. When no further
2renewals are possible, an applicant may apply for and obtain a new
3intern registration if the applicant meets the educational
4requirements for registration in effect at the time of the application
5for a new intern registration and has passed the California law and
6ethics examination described in Section 4999.53. An applicant
7who is issued a subsequent intern registration pursuant to this
8subdivision may be employed or volunteer in any allowable work
9setting except private practice.

10(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

11

SEC. 71.  

Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
12 is amended to read:

13

14132.  

The following is the schedule of benefits under this
14chapter:

15(a) Outpatient services are covered as follows:

16Physician, hospital or clinic outpatient, surgical center,
17respiratory care, optometric, chiropractic, psychology, podiatric,
18occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, audiology,
19acupuncture to the extent federal matching funds are provided for
20acupuncture, and services of persons rendering treatment by prayer
21or healing by spiritual means in the practice of any church or
22religious denomination insofar as these can be encompassed by
23federal participation under an approved plan, subject to utilization
24controls.

25(b) (1) Inpatient hospital services, including, but not limited
26to, physician and podiatric services, physical therapy and
27occupational therapy, are covered subject to utilization controls.

28(2) For Medi-Cal fee-for-service beneficiaries, emergency
29services and care that are necessary for the treatment of an
30emergency medical condition and medical care directly related to
31the emergency medical condition. This paragraph shall not be
32construed to change the obligation of Medi-Cal managed care
33plans to provide emergency services and care. For the purposes of
34this paragraph, “emergency services and care” and “emergency
35medical condition” shall have the same meanings as those terms
36are defined in Section 1317.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

37(c) Nursing facility services, subacute care services, and services
38provided by any category of intermediate care facility for the
39developmentally disabled, including podiatry, physician, nurse
40practitioner services, and prescribed drugs, as described in
P75   1subdivision (d), are covered subject to utilization controls.
2Respiratory care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech
3therapy, and audiology services for patients in nursing facilities
4and any category of intermediate care facility for the
5developmentally disabled are covered subject to utilization controls.

6(d) (1) Purchase of prescribed drugs is covered subject to the
7Medi-Cal List of Contract Drugs and utilization controls.

8(2) Purchase of drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction or any
9off-label uses of those drugs are covered only to the extent that
10federal financial participation is available.

11(3) (A) To the extent required by federal law, the purchase of
12outpatient prescribed drugs, for which the prescription is executed
13by a prescriber in written, nonelectronic form on or after April 1,
142008, is covered only when executed on a tamper resistant
15prescription form. The implementation of this paragraph shall
16conform to the guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare
17and Medicaid Services but shall not conflict with state statutes on
18the characteristics of tamper resistant prescriptions for controlled
19substances, including Section 11162.1 of the Health and Safety
20Code. The department shall provide providers and beneficiaries
21with as much flexibility in implementing these rules as allowed
22by the federal government. The department shall notify and consult
23with appropriate stakeholders in implementing, interpreting, or
24making specific this paragraph.

25(B) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
2611340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
27the department may take the actions specified in subparagraph (A)
28by means of a provider bulletin or notice, policy letter, or other
29similar instructions without taking regulatory action.

30(4) (A) (i) For the purposes of this paragraph, nonlegend has
31the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section
3214105.45.

33(ii) Nonlegend acetaminophen-containing products, with the
34exception of children’s acetaminophen-containing products,
35selected by the department are not covered benefits.

36(iii) Nonlegend cough and cold products selected by the
37department are not covered benefits. This clause shall be
38implemented on the first day of the first calendar month following
3990 days after the effective date of the act that added this clause,
40or on the first day of the first calendar month following 60 days
P76   1after the date the department secures all necessary federal approvals
2to implement this section, whichever is later.

3(iv) Beneficiaries under the Early and Periodic Screening,
4Diagnosis, and Treatment Program shall be exempt from clauses
5(ii) and (iii).

6(B) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
711340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
8the department may take the actions specified in subparagraph (A)
9by means of a provider bulletin or notice, policy letter, or other
10similar instruction without taking regulatory action.

11(e) Outpatient dialysis services and home hemodialysis services,
12including physician services, medical supplies, drugs and
13equipment required for dialysis, are covered, subject to utilization
14controls.

15(f) Anesthesiologist services when provided as part of an
16outpatient medical procedure, nurse anesthetist services when
17rendered in an inpatient or outpatient setting under conditions set
18forth by the director, outpatient laboratory services, and X-ray
19services are covered, subject to utilization controls. Nothing in
20this subdivision shall be construed to require prior authorization
21for anesthesiologist services provided as part of an outpatient
22medical procedure or for portable X-ray services in a nursing
23facility or any category of intermediate care facility for the
24developmentally disabled.

25(g) Blood and blood derivatives are covered.

26(h) (1) Emergency and essential diagnostic and restorative
27dental services, except for orthodontic, fixed bridgework, and
28partial dentures that are not necessary for balance of a complete
29artificial denture, are covered, subject to utilization controls. The
30utilization controls shall allow emergency and essential diagnostic
31and restorative dental services and prostheses that are necessary
32 to prevent a significant disability or to replace previously furnished
33prostheses which are lost or destroyed due to circumstances beyond
34the beneficiary’s control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
35director may by regulation provide for certain fixed artificial
36dentures necessary for obtaining employment or for medical
37conditions that preclude the use of removable dental prostheses,
38and for orthodontic services in cleft palate deformities administered
39by the department’s California Children Services Program.

P77   1(2) For persons 21 years of age or older, the services specified
2in paragraph (1) shall be provided subject to the following
3conditions:

4(A) Periodontal treatment is not a benefit.

5(B) Endodontic therapy is not a benefit except for vital
6pulpotomy.

7(C) Laboratory processed crowns are not a benefit.

8(D) Removable prosthetics shall be a benefit only for patients
9as a requirement for employment.

10(E) The director may, by regulation, provide for the provision
11of fixed artificial dentures that are necessary for medical conditions
12that preclude the use of removable dental prostheses.

13(F) Notwithstanding the conditions specified in subparagraphs
14(A) to (E), inclusive, the department may approve services for
15persons with special medical disorders subject to utilization review.

16(3) Paragraph (2) shall become inoperative July 1, 1995.

17(i) Medical transportation is covered, subject to utilization
18controls.

19(j) Home health care services are covered, subject to utilization
20controls.

21(k) Prosthetic and orthotic devices and eyeglasses are covered,
22subject to utilization controls. Utilization controls shall allow
23replacement of prosthetic and orthotic devices and eyeglasses
24necessary because of loss or destruction due to circumstances
25beyond the beneficiary’s control. Frame styles for eyeglasses
26replaced pursuant to this subdivision shall not change more than
27once every two years, unless the department so directs.

28Orthopedic and conventional shoes are covered when provided
29by a prosthetic and orthotic supplier on the prescription of a
30physician and when at least one of the shoes will be attached to a
31prosthesis or brace, subject to utilization controls. Modification
32of stock conventional or orthopedic shoes when medically
33indicated, is covered subject to utilization controls. When there is
34a clearly established medical need that cannot be satisfied by the
35modification of stock conventional or orthopedic shoes,
36custom-made orthopedic shoes are covered, subject to utilization
37controls.

38Therapeutic shoes and inserts are covered when provided to
39beneficiaries with a diagnosis of diabetes, subject to utilization
P78   1controls, to the extent that federal financial participation is
2available.

3(l) Hearing aids are covered, subject to utilization controls.
4Utilization controls shall allow replacement of hearing aids
5necessary because of loss or destruction due to circumstances
6beyond the beneficiary’s control.

7(m) Durable medical equipment and medical supplies are
8covered, subject to utilization controls. The utilization controls
9shall allow the replacement of durable medical equipment and
10medical supplies when necessary because of loss or destruction
11due to circumstances beyond the beneficiary’s control. The
12utilization controls shall allow authorization of durable medical
13equipment needed to assist a disabled beneficiary in caring for a
14child for whom the disabled beneficiary is a parent, stepparent,
15foster parent, or legal guardian, subject to the availability of federal
16financial participation. The department shall adopt emergency
17regulations to define and establish criteria for assistive durable
18medical equipment in accordance with the rulemaking provisions
19of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing
20 with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
21Government Code).

22(n) Family planning services are covered, subject to utilization
23controls.

24(o) Inpatient intensive rehabilitation hospital services, including
25respiratory rehabilitation services, in a general acute care hospital
26are covered, subject to utilization controls, when either of the
27following criteria are met:

28(1) A patient with a permanent disability or severe impairment
29requires an inpatient intensive rehabilitation hospital program as
30described in Section 14064 to develop function beyond the limited
31amount that would occur in the normal course of recovery.

32(2) A patient with a chronic or progressive disease requires an
33inpatient intensive rehabilitation hospital program as described in
34Section 14064 to maintain the patient’s present functional level as
35long as possible.

36(p) (1) Adult day health care is covered in accordance with
37Chapter 8.7 (commencing with Section 14520).

38(2) Commencing 30 days after the effective date of the act that
39added this paragraph, and notwithstanding the number of days
40previously approved through a treatment authorization request,
P79   1adult day health care is covered for a maximum of three days per
2week.

3(3) As provided in accordance with paragraph (4), adult day
4health care is covered for a maximum of five days per week.

5(4) As of the date that the director makes the declaration
6described in subdivision (g) of Section 14525.1, paragraph (2)
7shall become inoperative and paragraph (3) shall become operative.

8(q) (1) Application of fluoride, or other appropriate fluoride
9treatment as defined by the department, and other prophylaxis
10treatment for children 17 years of age and under are covered.

11(2) All dental hygiene services provided by a registered dental
12hygienist, registered dental hygienist in extended functions, and
13registered dental hygienist in alternative practice licensed pursuant
14to Sections 1753, 1917, 1918, and 1922 of the Business and
15Professions Code may be covered as long as they are within the
16scope of Denti-Cal benefits and they are necessary services
17provided by a registered dental hygienist, registered dental
18 hygienist in extended functions, or registered dental hygienist in
19alternative practice.

20(r) (1) Paramedic services performed by a city, county, or
21special district, or pursuant to a contract with a city, county, or
22special district, and pursuant to a program established under Article
233 (commencing with Section 1480) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 2
24of the Health and Safety Code by a paramedic certified pursuant
25to that article, and consisting of defibrillation and those services
26specified in subdivision (3) of Section 1482 of the article.

27(2) All providers enrolled under this subdivision shall satisfy
28all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for becoming
29a Medi-Cal provider.

30(3) This subdivision shall be implemented only to the extent
31funding is available under Section 14106.6.

32(s) In-home medical care services are covered when medically
33appropriate and subject to utilization controls, for beneficiaries
34who would otherwise require care for an extended period of time
35in an acute care hospital at a cost higher than in-home medical
36care services. The director shall have the authority under this
37section to contract with organizations qualified to provide in-home
38medical care services to those persons. These services may be
39provided to patients placed in shared or congregate living
40arrangements, if a home setting is not medically appropriate or
P80   1available to the beneficiary. As used in this section, “in-home
2medical care service” includes utility bills directly attributable to
3continuous, 24-hour operation of life-sustaining medical equipment,
4to the extent that federal financial participation is available.

5As used in this subdivision, in-home medical care services
6 include, but are not limited to:

7(1) Level of care and cost of care evaluations.

8(2) Expenses, directly attributable to home care activities, for
9materials.

10(3) Physician fees for home visits.

11(4) Expenses directly attributable to home care activities for
12shelter and modification to shelter.

13(5) Expenses directly attributable to additional costs of special
14diets, including tube feeding.

15(6) Medically related personal services.

16(7) Home nursing education.

17(8) Emergency maintenance repair.

18(9) Home health agency personnel benefits which permit
19coverage of care during periods when regular personnel are on
20vacation or using sick leave.

21(10) All services needed to maintain antiseptic conditions at
22stoma or shunt sites on the body.

23(11) Emergency and nonemergency medical transportation.

24(12) Medical supplies.

25(13) Medical equipment, including, but not limited to, scales,
26gurneys, and equipment racks suitable for paralyzed patients.

27(14) Utility use directly attributable to the requirements of home
28care activities which are in addition to normal utility use.

29(15) Special drugs and medications.

30(16) Home health agency supervision of visiting staff which is
31medically necessary, but not included in the home health agency
32rate.

33(17) Therapy services.

34(18) Household appliances and household utensil costs directly
35attributable to home care activities.

36(19) Modification of medical equipment for home use.

37(20) Training and orientation for use of life-support systems,
38including, but not limited to, support of respiratory functions.

P81   1(21) Respiratory care practitioner services as defined in Sections
23702 and 3703 of the Business and Professions Code, subject to
3prescription by a physician and surgeon.

4Beneficiaries receiving in-home medical care services are entitled
5to the full range of services within the Medi-Cal scope of benefits
6as defined by this section, subject to medical necessity and
7applicable utilization control. Services provided pursuant to this
8subdivision, which are not otherwise included in the Medi-Cal
9schedule of benefits, shall be available only to the extent that
10federal financial participation for these services is available in
11accordance with a home- and community-based services waiver.

12(t) Home- and community-based services approved by the
13United States Department of Health and Human Services may be
14covered to the extent that federal financial participation is available
15for those services under waivers granted in accordance with Section
161396n of Title 42 of the United States Code. The director may
17seek waivers for any or all home- and community-based services
18approvable under Section 1396n of Title 42 of the United States
19Code. Coverage for those services shall be limited by the terms,
20conditions, and duration of the federal waivers.

21(u) Comprehensive perinatal services, as provided through an
22agreement with a health care provider designated in Section
2314134.5 and meeting the standards developed by the department
24pursuant to Section 14134.5, subject to utilization controls.

25The department shall seek any federal waivers necessary to
26implement the provisions of this subdivision. The provisions for
27which appropriate federal waivers cannot be obtained shall not be
28implemented. Provisions for which waivers are obtained or for
29which waivers are not required shall be implemented
30notwithstanding any inability to obtain federal waivers for the
31other provisions. No provision of this subdivision shall be
32implemented unless matching funds from Subchapter XIX
33 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the
34United States Code are available.

35(v) Early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment for
36any individual under 21 years of age is covered, consistent with
37the requirements of Subchapter XIX (commencing with Section
381396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

39(w) Hospice service which is Medicare-certified hospice service
40is covered, subject to utilization controls. Coverage shall be
P82   1available only to the extent that no additional net program costs
2are incurred.

3(x) When a claim for treatment provided to a beneficiary
4includes both services which are authorized and reimbursable
5under this chapter, and services which are not reimbursable under
6this chapter, that portion of the claim for the treatment and services
7authorized and reimbursable under this chapter shall be payable.

8(y) Home- and community-based services approved by the
9United States Department of Health and Human Services for
10beneficiaries with a diagnosis of AIDS or ARC, who require
11intermediate care or a higher level of care.

12Services provided pursuant to a waiver obtained from the
13Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human
14Services pursuant to this subdivision, and which are not otherwise
15included in the Medi-Cal schedule of benefits, shall be available
16only to the extent that federal financial participation for these
17services is available in accordance with the waiver, and subject to
18the terms, conditions, and duration of the waiver. These services
19shall be provided to individual beneficiaries in accordance with
20the client’s needs as identified in the plan of care, and subject to
21medical necessity and applicable utilization control.

22The director may under this section contract with organizations
23qualified to provide, directly or by subcontract, services provided
24for in this subdivision to eligible beneficiaries. Contracts or
25agreements entered into pursuant to this division shall not be
26subject to the Public Contract Code.

27(z) Respiratory care when provided in organized health care
28systems as defined in Section 3701 of the Business and Professions
29Code, and as an in-home medical service as outlined in subdivision
30(s).

31(aa) (1) There is hereby established in the department, a
32program to provide comprehensive clinical family planning
33services to any person who has a family income at or below 200
34percent of the federal poverty level, as revised annually, and who
35is eligible to receive these services pursuant to the waiver identified
36in paragraph (2). This program shall be known as the Family
37Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Program.

38(2) The department shall seek a waiver in accordance with
39Section 1315 of Title 42 of the United States Code, or a state plan
40amendment adopted in accordance with Section
P83   11396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XXI)(ii)(2) of Title 42 of the United States
2Code, which was added to Section 1396a of Title 42 of the United
3States Code by Section 2303(a)(2) of the federal Patient Protection
4and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (Public Law 111-148), for a
5program to provide comprehensive clinical family planning
6services as described in paragraph (8). Under the waiver, the
7program shall be operated only in accordance with the waiver and
8the statutes and regulations in paragraph (4) and subject to the
9terms, conditions, and duration of the waiver. Under the state plan
10amendment, which shall replace the waiver and shall be known as
11the Family PACT successor state plan amendment, the program
12shall be operated only in accordance with this subdivision and the
13statutes and regulations in paragraph (4). The state shall use the
14standards and processes imposed by the state on January 1, 2007,
15including the application of an eligibility discount factor to the
16extent required by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
17Services, for purposes of determining eligibility as permitted under
18Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XXI)(ii)(2) of Title 42 of the United
19States Code. To the extent that federal financial participation is
20available, the program shall continue to conduct education,
21outreach, enrollment, service delivery, and evaluation services as
22specified under the waiver. The services shall be provided under
23the program only if the waiver and, when applicable, the successor
24state plan amendment are approved by the federal Centers for
25Medicare and Medicaid Services and only to the extent that federal
26financial participation is available for the services. Nothing in this
27section shall prohibit the department from seeking the Family
28PACT successor state plan amendment during the operation of the
29waiver.

30(3) Solely for the purposes of the waiver or Family PACT
31successor state plan amendment and notwithstanding any other
32provision of law, the collection and use of an individual’s social
33security number shall be necessary only to the extent required by
34federal law.

35(4) Sections 14105.3 to 14105.39, inclusive, 14107.11, 24005,
36and 24013, and any regulations adopted under these statutes shall
37apply to the program provided for under this subdivision. No other
38provision of law under the Medi-Cal program or the State-Only
39Family Planning Program shall apply to the program provided for
40under this subdivision.

P84   1(5) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
211340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
3the department may implement, without taking regulatory action,
4the provisions of the waiver after its approval by the federal Health
5Care Financing Administration and the provisions of this section
6by means of an all-county letter or similar instruction to providers.
7Thereafter, the department shall adopt regulations to implement
8this section and the approved waiver in accordance with the
9requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of
10Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning
11six months after the effective date of the act adding this
12subdivision, the department shall provide a status report to the
13Legislature on a semiannual basis until regulations have been
14adopted.

15(6) In the event that the Department of Finance determines that
16the program operated under the authority of the waiver described
17in paragraph (2) or the Family PACT successor state plan
18amendment is no longer cost effective, this subdivision shall
19become inoperative on the first day of the first month following
20the issuance of a 30-day notification of that determination in
21writing by the Department of Finance to the chairperson in each
22house that considers appropriations, the chairpersons of the
23committees, and the appropriate subcommittees in each house that
24considers the State Budget, and the Chairperson of the Joint
25Legislative Budget Committee.

26(7) If this subdivision ceases to be operative, all persons who
27have received or are eligible to receive comprehensive clinical
28family planning services pursuant to the waiver described in
29 paragraph (2) shall receive family planning services under the
30Medi-Cal program pursuant to subdivision (n) if they are otherwise
31eligible for Medi-Cal with no share of cost, or shall receive
32comprehensive clinical family planning services under the program
33established in Division 24 (commencing with Section 24000) either
34if they are eligible for Medi-Cal with a share of cost or if they are
35otherwise eligible under Section 24003.

36(8) For purposes of this subdivision, “comprehensive clinical
37family planning services” means the process of establishing
38objectives for the number and spacing of children, and selecting
39the means by which those objectives may be achieved. These
40means include a broad range of acceptable and effective methods
P85   1and services to limit or enhance fertility, including contraceptive
2methods, federal Food and Drug Administration approved
3contraceptive drugs, devices, and supplies, natural family planning,
4abstinence methods, and basic, limited fertility management.
5Comprehensive clinical family planning services include, but are
6not limited to, preconception counseling, maternal and fetal health
7counseling, general reproductive health care, including diagnosis
8and treatment of infections and conditions, including cancer, that
9threaten reproductive capability, medical family planning treatment
10and procedures, including supplies and followup, and
11informational, counseling, and educational services.
12Comprehensive clinical family planning services shall not include
13abortion, pregnancy testing solely for the purposes of referral for
14abortion or services ancillary to abortions, or pregnancy care that
15is not incident to the diagnosis of pregnancy. Comprehensive
16clinical family planning services shall be subject to utilization
17control and include all of the following:

18(A) Family planning related services and male and female
19sterilization. Family planning services for men and women shall
20include emergency services and services for complications directly
21related to the contraceptive method, federal Food and Drug
22Administration approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and
23supplies, and followup, consultation, and referral services, as
24indicated, which may require treatment authorization requests.

25(B) All United States Department of Agriculture, federal Food
26and Drug Administration approved contraceptive drugs, devices,
27and supplies that are in keeping with current standards of practice
28and from which the individual may choose.

29(C) Culturally and linguistically appropriate health education
30and counseling services, including informed consent, that include
31all of the following:

32(i) Psychosocial and medical aspects of contraception.

33(ii) Sexuality.

34(iii) Fertility.

35(iv) Pregnancy.

36(v) Parenthood.

37(vi) Infertility.

38(vii) Reproductive health care.

39(viii) Preconception and nutrition counseling.

40(ix) Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infection.

P86   1(x) Use of contraceptive methods, federal Food and Drug
2Administration approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and
3supplies.

4(xi) Possible contraceptive consequences and followup.

5(xii) Interpersonal communication and negotiation of
6relationships to assist individuals and couples in effective
7contraceptive method use and planning families.

8(D) A comprehensive health history, updated at the next periodic
9visit (between 11 and 24 months after initial examination) that
10includes a complete obstetrical history, gynecological history,
11contraceptive history, personal medical history, health risk factors,
12and family health history, including genetic or hereditary
13conditions.

14(E) A complete physical examination on initial and subsequent
15periodic visits.

16(F) Services, drugs, devices, and supplies deemed by the federal
17Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to be appropriate for
18inclusion in the program.

19(9) In order to maximize the availability of federal financial
20participation under this subdivision, the director shall have the
21discretion to implement the Family PACT successor state plan
22amendment retroactively to July 1, 2010.

23(ab) (1) Purchase of prescribed enteral nutrition products is
24covered, subject to the Medi-Cal list of enteral nutrition products
25and utilization controls.

26(2) Purchase of enteral nutrition products is limited to those
27products to be administered through a feeding tube, including, but
28not limited to, a gastric, nasogastric, or jejunostomy tube.
29Beneficiaries under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis,
30and Treatment Program shall be exempt from this paragraph.

31(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the department may deem
32an enteral nutrition product, not administered through a feeding
33tube, including, but not limited to, a gastric, nasogastric, or
34jejunostomy tube, a benefit for patients with diagnoses, including,
35but not limited to, malabsorption and inborn errors of metabolism,
36if the product has been shown to be neither investigational nor
37experimental when used as part of a therapeutic regimen to prevent
38serious disability or death.

39(4) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
4011340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
P87   1the department may implement the amendments to this subdivision
2made by the act that added this paragraph by means of all-county
3letters, provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking
4regulatory action.

5(5) The amendments made to this subdivision by the act that
6added this paragraph shall be implemented June 1, 2011, or on the
7first day of the first calendar month following 60 days after the
8date the department secures all necessary federal approvals to
9implement this section, whichever is later.

10(ac) Diabetic testing supplies are covered when provided by a
11pharmacy, subject to utilization controls.



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