Bill Text: NH SB207 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relative to mental health critical incident intervention and management, and relative to mental health practice.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2023-08-09 - Signed by the Governor on 08/04/2023; Chapter 0224; Effective 10/03/2023 [SB207 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2023-SB207-Amended.html
SB 207 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
02/22/2023 0302s
02/22/2023 0638s
8Jun2023... 2010h
2023 SESSION
23-0972
06/05
SENATE BILL 207
SPONSORS: Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Rep. Schapiro, Ches. 16; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Revises the definition of critical incident stress management team to include members of a union of emergency response/public safety workers.
II. Allows for conditional licensing of clinical mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/22/2023 0302s
02/22/2023 0638s
8Jun2023... 2010h 23-0972
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Legislative Findings. The general court finds that:
I. New Hampshire has a shortage of qualified mental health professionals.
II. New Hampshire competes with neighboring states to attract qualified mental health professionals.
III. Licensure requirements and licensure processes may impact the mental health workforce in New Hampshire.
2 Emergency Medical and Trauma Services; Critical Incident Intervention and Management. Amend RSA 153-A:17-a, I(e) - II(b) to read as follows:
(e) "Critical incident stress management team" or "team" means the group of one or more trained volunteers, including members of peer support groups organized by a unit of state, local, or county government, or members of a union of emergency responses/public safety workers, as defined by RSA 281-A:2, V-c, who offer critical incident stress management and crisis intervention services following a critical incident or long term or continued, debilitating stress being experienced by emergency services providers and affecting them or their family situation.
(f)(1) "Critical incident stress management team member" or "team member" means an emergency services provider, including any law enforcement officer, sheriff or deputy sheriff, state police officer, civilian law enforcement employee, firefighter, civilian fire department employee, emergency medical personnel, telecommunicators, and local dispatchers specially trained to provide critical incident stress management and crisis intervention services as a member of an organized and registered team.
(2) In this subparagraph:
(A) "Telecommunicator" means an employee of the department of safety, division of emergency services and communications who is responsible for receiving at the public safety answering point telephone calls made to E911 and transferring or relaying such calls to public or private safety agencies.
(B) "Local dispatcher" means a person who determines the location, status, and assistance required by callers and walk-in customers for public safety services and dispatches the appropriate police, fire, ambulance, or other units to provide needed emergency services at the state, city, town, or private emergency services level.
II.(a) Team members shall undergo and sustain certification standards set forth in guidelines established by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) approved by the commissioner of the department of safety, or a similar organization for which the commissioner shall not unreasonably withhold approval. The team shall be registered with ICISF, or a similar organization, and maintain training standards to date as required.
(b) All critical incident stress management team members, sworn or civilian, shall be designated by the police chief, sheriff, director of the division of state police, fire chief, or director of the division of emergency services and communications, or head of a union of emergency response/public safety workers as defined by RSA 281-A:2, V-c.
3 Mental Health Practice; Fees. Amend RSA 330-A:12, I to read as follows:
I. The [board] office of professional licensure and certification shall establish fees pursuant to RSA 541-A for applications for conditional licensure and supervisory agreements; applications for licensed pastoral psychotherapist, independent clinical social worker, school social worker, licensed social worker, licensed social work associate, clinical mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, and conditional licenses; renewal of license; renewal of dual license; reinstatement of license; inactive license status; reactivation of an inactive license; examination of applicants; transcribing and transferring records; and other services, including investigations and hearings conducted under this chapter.
4 Social Work; Conditional License. Amend RSA 330-A:18-d, I to read as follows:
I. Applicants for licensure under this section may apply to the board for conditional licensure. To receive a conditional license, applicants shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Clinical Social Worker:
(1) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in social work or social welfare from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) approved program.
(2) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement with documented intent to pursue licensure as a clinical social worker under this chapter.
(3) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(4) Upon approval of the supervision agreement, the board shall issue a conditional license.
(5) Conditional licensees are subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
(b) School Social Worker:
(1) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in social work or social welfare from a CSWE approved program.
(2) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement, with documented intent to pursue licensure as a clinical social worker under this chapter.
(3) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(4) Upon approval of the supervision agreement, the board shall issue a conditional license.
(5) Conditional licensees are subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
(c) Licensed Social Worker:
(1) Hold a bachelor's degree in social work or a social welfare from a CSWE approved program.
(2) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement consistent with RSA 330-A:18-b, III, with documented intent to pursue licensure as a licensed social worker under this chapter.
(3) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(4) Upon approval of the supervision agreement, the board shall issue a conditional license.
(5) Conditional licensees are subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
(d) Licensed Social Work Associate:
(1) Hold an associate's or bachelor's degree in clinical mental health, social work, psychology, behavioral health counseling, human services discipline, or equivalent program from an accredited college or university.
(2) Complete 300 hours of social work or mental health education within the degree-granting program or separately.
(3) Complete 300 hours of supervised practical training within the degree-granting program, as part of the supervised work experience or separately.
(4) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement consistent with RSA 330-A:18-c, III, with documented intent to pursue licensure as a licensed social work associate under this chapter.
(5) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(6) Upon approval of the supervision agreement, the board shall issue a conditional license.
(7) Conditional licensees are subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
[(e) Clinical Mental Health Counselor:
(1) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP accredited institution or its equivalent which has received regional accreditation from the Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.
(2) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement with documented intent to pursue licensure as a clinical mental health counselor under this chapter.
(3) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(f) Marriage and Family Therapist:
(1) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or has a master's degree or doctorate degree with a concentration in the field of marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited institution or has a clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
(2) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement with documented intent to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist under this chapter.
(3) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.]
5 New Paragraphs; Clinical Mental Health Counselors; Conditional License. Amend RSA 330-A:19 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraphs:
IV. To receive a conditional license for a clinical mental health counselor, an applicant shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP accredited institution or its equivalent which has received regional accreditation from the Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.
(b) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement with documented intent to pursue licensure as a clinical mental health counselor under this chapter.
(c) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(d) Upon approval of the supervision agreement, the board shall issue a conditional license.
(e) Conditional licensees are subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
V. Conditional licenses issued under this section shall be valid for a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of issuance. Applicants in good standing with the board may apply for a one-time renewal of a conditional license.
6 New Paragraphs; Marriage and Family Therapists; Conditional License. Amend RSA 330-A:21 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraphs:
IV. To receive a conditional license for a marriage and family therapist, an applicant shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or hold a master's degree or doctorate degree with a concentration in the field of marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited institution, or hold a clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
(b) Obtain a board approved supervisory agreement with documented intent to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist under this chapter.
(c) Meet other criteria as reasonably established by the board.
(d) Upon approval of the supervision agreement, the board shall issue a conditional license.
(e) Conditional licensees are subject to the jurisdiction of the board.
V. Conditional licenses issued under this section shall be valid for a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of issuance. Applicants in good standing with the board may apply for a one-time renewal of a conditional license.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
