Bill Text: NH HB428 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Hampshire House Bill 428 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relative to mental health practice.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-29 - Retained in Committee [HB428 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2023-HB428-Introduced.html

HB 428 - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0340

09/05

HOUSE BILL 428

AN ACT relative to mental health practice.

SPONSORS: Rep. Schapiro, Ches. 16; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 17; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Rep. Nutter-Upham, Hills. 8; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

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ANALYSIS

This bill allows for conditional licensing of clinical mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.

The bill is a request of the board of mental health practice and office of professional licensure and certification.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0340

09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT relative to mental health practice.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 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.

2 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 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.

(1) Hold a bachelor's degree in social work or 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.]

3 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.

(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.

4 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.

(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.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.