- Introduced -

SB 523 - This act regulates the licensure and registration of marital and family therapists and counselors.

Section 337.300 provides the necessary definitions for professional counselors and marital and family therapists. Section 337.303 creates the Board of Counselors and Therapists, which shall consist of nine members to be appointed by the Governor.

Section 337.305 abolishes the State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists and the Committee for Professional Counselors and their duties will merge into the Board of Counselors and Therapists.

Communications made to licensed professional counselors and licensed marital and family therapists shall be considered privileged (Section 337.306).

The Board of Counselors and Therapists Fund is created in the state treasury and will consist of all moneys collected by the Board (Section 337.312).

The Board has the authority to promulgate rules for applications for licenses, fees, examinations, and determining grievances and violations (Section 337.315).

Section 337.403 prohibits any unlicenced person from being referred to or practicing as a marital and family therapist.

Section 337.406 requires marital and family therapists to be licensed and meet the requisite educational and examination requirements to practice and be compensated. Sections 337.412 and 337.415 detail the licensure requirements for marital and family therapists.

Licenses for marital and family therapists will expire every two years. The Board may issue temporary permits for extenuating circumstances (Section 337.418). The Board may refuse to issue or renew a license for a marital and family therapist for any one of a combination of specified causes (Section 337.430).

Anyone violating the provisions of §337.400 to §337.430 will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor (Section 337.433).

The Board shall have the authority to issue subpoenas and require production of documents and records (Section 337.440).

Section 337.505 prohibits any unlicenced person from being referred to or practicing as a professional counselor.

Sections 337.507 and 337.510 detail the licensure requirements for professional counselors. The Board may refuse to issue or renew a license for a professional counselor for any one of a combination of specified causes (Section 337.525).

Anyone violating the provisions of §337.505 to §337.540 will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor (Section 337.530).

LORIE TOWE