BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1917


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          Date of Hearing:  April 6, 2016


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                               Lorena Gonzalez, Chair


          AB  
          1917 (Obernolte) - As Introduced February 11, 2016


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill clarifies and makes minor changes to education and  
          training requirements for licensed marriage and family  
          therapists (LMFTs) and licensed professional clinical counselors  
          (LPCCs) licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). 


          FISCAL EFFECT:









                                                                    AB 1917


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          Costs to BBS are minor and absorbable (Behavioral Science  
          Examiners Fund).


          COMMENTS:


          1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill effectuates  
            changes to LMFT and LPCC licensure requirements that emerged  
            from a stakeholder committee process.  BBS believes these  
            amendments will, among other things, assist applicants with  
            degrees from out-of-state schools to become licensed in  
            California, while ensuring the degree includes training  
            necessary to protect the public. This bill is sponsored by BBS  
            and has no opposition. 



          2)Background.  BBS licenses nearly 40,000 LMFTs and 1,300 LPCCs,  
            as well as interns for each licensure type.  LMFTs and LPCCs  
            are Masters'-level mental health practitioners that work in a  
            variety of health care settings including hospitals, mental  
            health organizations, and private practice.  
          Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081