BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 146
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 13, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                     SB 146 (Wyland) - As Amended:  June 7, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                             Judiciary Vote:9-0
                       Business and Professions         Vote: 9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill revises numerous code sections, which currently apply 
          to other, similar mental health professionals, to include 
          licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs), clinical 
          counselor interns and trainees.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible state fiscal impact. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  .  Professional clinical counselors will be newly 
            licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences commencing 
            January 1, 2012.  According to the author, this bill is needed 
            to thoroughly update and amend relevant code sections so that 
            LPCCs are provided appropriate statutory guidance.  The bill 
            includes over 30 provisions addressing diverse issues, 
            including administrative issues regarding licensure, the 
            treatment of confidential patient information, and recognition 
            of LPCCs by health insurance plans as healing arts 
            professionals.   This statutory guidance exists for other 
            mental health professionals.  Because LPCCs are largely 
            comparable to marriage and family therapists (MFTs), this bill 
            amends code sections that currently apply to MFTs so that the 
            same substantive provisions and requirements would apply to 
            LPCCs as well.  

           2)Background  . Licensed professional clinical counselors are 
            masters and doctoral-level mental health service providers who 
            practice psychotherapy.  LPCCs are comparable in scope of 








                                                                  SB 146
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            practice, education, and training to MFTs, but they tend to 
            cover a broader range of issues than MFTs, who tend to 
            specialize on marital and family relationship issues.  

           3)Prior Legislation  . SB 788 (Wyland), Chapter 619, Statutes of 
            2009, established state licensure standards for professional 
            clinical counselors. 

          4)SB 274 (Wyland) is pending on the Assembly floor, revises 
            several statutes related to professions licensed by the Board 
            of Behavioral Sciences, and makes clarifying changes to 
            statutes related to LPCC licensure. 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081