Bill Text: TX HB2557 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to the Licensed Professional Counselors Compact; authorizing fees.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-04 - Referred to Health & Human Services [HB2557 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2557-Engrossed.html
  88R21208 SCP-D
 
  By: Buckley, Raney, Plesa, Burns, et al. H.B. No. 2557
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Licensed Professional Counselors Compact;
  authorizing fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 503, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS COMPACT
         Sec. 503.501.  LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS COMPACT.
  The Licensed Professional Counselors Compact is enacted and entered
  into with all other jurisdictions that legally join in the compact,
  which reads as follows:
  LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS COMPACT
  SECTION 1:  PURPOSE
  The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of
  Licensed Professional Counselors with the goal of improving public
  access to Professional Counseling services. The practice of
  Professional Counseling occurs in the State where the client is
  located at the time of the counseling services. The Compact
  preserves the regulatory authority of States to protect public
  health and safety through the current system of State licensure.
  This Compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:
         A.  Increase public access to Professional Counseling
  services by providing for the mutual recognition of other Member
  State licenses;
         B.  Enhance the States' ability to protect the public's
  health and safety;
         C.  Encourage the cooperation of Member States in regulating
  multistate practice for Licensed Professional Counselors;
         D.  Support spouses of relocating Active Duty Military
  personnel;
         E.  Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and
  disciplinary information among Member States;
         F.  Allow for the use of Telehealth technology to facilitate
  increased access to Professional Counseling services;
         G.  Support the uniformity of Professional Counseling
  licensure requirements throughout the States to promote public
  safety and public health benefits;
         H.  Invest all Member States with the authority to hold a
  Licensed Professional Counselor accountable for meeting all State
  practice laws in the State in which the client is located at the
  time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of Member
  State licenses;
         I.  Eliminate the necessity for licenses in multiple States;
  and
         J.  Provide opportunities for interstate practice by
  Licensed Professional Counselors who meet uniform licensure
  requirements.
  SECTION 2.  DEFINITIONS
  As used in this Compact, and except as otherwise provided, the
  following definitions shall apply:
  A.  "Active Duty Military" means full-time duty status in the
  active uniformed service of the United States, including members of
  the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10
  U.S.C. Chapters 1209 and 1211.
  B.  "Adverse Action" means any administrative, civil, equitable or
  criminal action permitted by a State's laws which is imposed by a
  licensing board or other authority against a Licensed Professional
  Counselor, including actions against an individual's license or
  Privilege to Practice such as revocation, suspension, probation,
  monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee's practice,
  or any other Encumbrance on licensure affecting a Licensed
  Professional Counselor's authorization to practice, including
  issuance of a cease and desist action.
  C.  "Alternative Program" means a non-disciplinary monitoring or
  practice remediation process approved by a Professional Counseling
  Licensing Board to address Impaired Practitioners.
  D.  "Continuing Competence/Education" means a requirement, as a
  condition of license renewal, to provide evidence of participation
  in, and/or completion of, educational and professional activities
  relevant to practice or area of work.
  E.  "Counseling Compact Commission" or "Commission" means the
  national administrative body whose membership consists of all
  States that have enacted the Compact.
  F.  "Current Significant Investigative Information" means:
         1.  Investigative Information that a Licensing Board, after
  a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity
  for the Licensed Professional Counselor to respond, if required by
  State law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved
  true, would indicate more than a minor infraction; or
         2.  Investigative Information that indicates that the
  Licensed Professional Counselor represents an immediate threat to
  public health and safety regardless of whether the Licensed
  Professional Counselor has been notified and had an opportunity to
  respond.
  G.  "Data System" means a repository of information about
  Licensees, including, but not limited to, continuing education,
  examination, licensure, investigative, Privilege to Practice and
  Adverse Action information.
  H.  "Encumbered License" means a license in which an Adverse Action
  restricts the practice of licensed Professional Counseling by the
  Licensee and said Adverse Action has been reported to the National
  Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB).
  I.  "Encumbrance" means a revocation or suspension of, or any
  limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of Licensed
  Professional Counseling by a Licensing Board.
  J.  "Executive Committee" means a group of directors elected or
  appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them
  by, the Commission.
  K.  "Home State" means the Member State that is the Licensee's
  primary State of residence.
  L.  "Impaired Practitioner" means an individual who has a
  condition(s) that may impair their ability to practice as a
  Licensed Professional Counselor without some type of intervention
  and may include, but are not limited to, alcohol and drug
  dependence, mental health impairment, and neurological or
  physical impairments.
  M.  "Investigative Information" means information, records, and
  documents received or generated by a Professional Counseling
  Licensing Board pursuant to an investigation.
  N.  "Jurisprudence Requirement" if required by a Member State,
  means the assessment of an individual's knowledge of the laws and
  Rules governing the practice of Professional Counseling in a State.
  O.  "Licensed Professional Counselor" means a counselor licensed
  by a Member State, regardless of the title used by that State, to
  independently assess, diagnose, and treat behavioral health
  conditions.
  P.  "Licensee" means an individual who currently holds an
  authorization from the State to practice as a Licensed Professional
  Counselor.
  Q.  "Licensing Board" means the agency of a State, or equivalent,
  that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of Licensed
  Professional Counselors.
  R.  Member State" means a State that has enacted the Compact.
  S.  "Privilege to Practice" means a legal authorization, which is
  equivalent to a license, permitting the practice of Professional
  Counseling in a Remote State.
  T.  "Professional Counseling" means the assessment, diagnosis, and
  treatment of behavioral health conditions by a Licensed
  Professional Counselor.
  U.  "Remote State" means a Member State other than the Home State,
  where a Licensee is exercising or seeking to exercise the Privilege
  to Practice.
  V.  "Rule" means a regulation promulgated by the Commission that
  has the force of law.
  W.  "Single State License" means a Licensed Professional Counselor
  license issued by a Member State that authorizes practice only
  within the issuing State and does not include a Privilege to
  Practice in any other Member State.
  X.  "State" means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory
  of the United States of America that regulates the practice of
  Professional Counseling.
  Y.  "Telehealth" means the application of telecommunication
  technology to deliver Professional Counseling services remotely to
  assess, diagnose, and treat behavioral health conditions.
  Z.  "Unencumbered License" means a license that authorizes a
  Licensed Professional Counselor to engage in the full and
  unrestricted practice of Professional Counseling.
  SECTION 3.  STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT
  A.  To Participate in the Compact, a State must currently:
         1.  License and regulate Licensed Professional Counselors;
         2.  Require Licensees to pass a nationally recognized exam
  approved by the Commission;
         3.  Require Licensees to have a 60 semester-hour (or 90
  quarter-hour) master's degree in counseling or 60 semester-hours
  (or 90 quarter-hours) of graduate course work including the
  following topic areas:
               a.  Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical
  Practice;
               b.  Social and Cultural Diversity;
               c.  Human Growth and Development;
               d.  Career Development;
               e.  Counseling and Helping Relationships;
               f.  Group Counseling and Group Work;
               g.  Diagnosis and Treatment; Assessment and Testing;
               h.  Research and Program Evaluation; and
               i.  Other areas as determined by the Commission.
         4.  Require Licensees to complete a supervised postgraduate
  professional experience as defined by the Commission;
         5.  Have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating
  complaints about Licensees.
  B.  A Member State shall:
         1.  Participate fully in the Commission's Data System,
  including using the Commission's unique identifier as defined in
  Rules;
         2.  Notify the Commission, in compliance with the terms of
  the Compact and Rules, of any Adverse Action or the availability of
  Investigative Information regarding a Licensee;
         3.  Implement or utilize procedures for considering the
  criminal history records of applicants for an initial Privilege to
  Practice. These procedures shall include the submission of
  fingerprints or other biometric-based information by applicants
  for the purpose of obtaining an applicant's criminal history record
  information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency
  responsible for retaining that State's criminal records;
               a.  A member state must fully implement a criminal
  background check requirement, within a time frame established by
  rule, by receiving the results of the Federal Bureau of
  Investigation record search and shall use the results in making
  licensure decisions.
               b.  Communication between a Member State, the
  Commission and among Member States regarding the verification of
  eligibility for licensure through the Compact shall not include any
  information received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation
  relating to a federal criminal records check performed by a Member
  State under Public Law 92-544.
         4.  Comply with the Rules of the Commission;
         5.  Require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in the
  Home State and meet the Home State's qualifications for licensure
  or renewal of licensure, as well as all other applicable State laws;
         6.  Grant the Privilege to Practice to a Licensee holding a
  valid Unencumbered License in another Member State in accordance
  with the terms of the Compact and Rules; and
         7.  Provide for the attendance of the State's commissioner to
  the Counseling Compact Commission meetings.
  C.  Member States may charge a fee for granting the Privilege to
  Practice.
  D.  Individuals not residing in a Member State shall continue to be
  able to apply for a Member State's Single State License as provided
  under the laws of each Member State. However, the Single State
  License granted to these individuals shall not be recognized as
  granting a Privilege to Practice Professional Counseling in any
  other Member State.
  E.  Nothing in this Compact shall affect the requirements
  established by a Member State for the issuance of a Single State
  License.
  F.  A license issued to a Licensed Professional Counselor by a Home
  State to a resident in that State shall be recognized by each Member
  State as authorizing a Licensed Professional Counselor to practice
  Professional Counseling, under a Privilege to Practice, in each
  Member State.
  SECTION 4.  PRIVILEGE TO PRACTICE
  A.  To exercise the Privilege to Practice under the terms and
  provisions of the Compact, the Licensee shall:
         1.  Hold a license in the Home State;
         2.  Have a valid United States Social Security Number or
  National Practitioner Identifier;
         3.  Be eligible for a Privilege to Practice in any Member
  State in accordance with Section 4(D), (G) and (H);
         4.  Have not had any Encumbrance or restriction against any
  license or Privilege to Practice within the previous two (2) years;
         5.  Notify the Commission that the Licensee is seeking the
  Privilege to Practice within a Remote State(s);
         6.  Pay any applicable fees, including any State fee, for the
  Privilege to Practice;
         7.  Meet any Continuing Competence/Education requirements
  established by the Home State;
         8.  Meet any Jurisprudence Requirements established by the
  Remote State(s) in which the Licensee is seeking a Privilege to
  Practice; and
         9.  Report to the Commission any Adverse Action,
  Encumbrance, or restriction on license taken by any non-Member
  State within 30 days from the date the action is taken.
  B.  The Privilege to Practice is valid until the expiration date of
  the Home State license. The Licensee must comply with the
  requirements of Section 4(A) to maintain the Privilege to Practice
  in the Remote State.
  C.  A Licensee providing Professional Counseling in a Remote State
  under the Privilege to Practice shall adhere to the laws and
  regulations of the Remote State.
  D.  A Licensee providing Professional Counseling services in a
  Remote State is subject to that State's regulatory authority. A
  Remote State may, in accordance with due process and that State's
  laws, remove a Licensee's Privilege to Practice in the Remote State
  for a specific period of time, impose fines, and/or take any other
  necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its citizens.
  The Licensee may be ineligible for a Privilege to Practice in any
  Member State until the specific time for removal has passed and all
  fines are paid.
  E.  If a Home State license is encumbered, the Licensee shall lose
  the Privilege to Practice in any Remote State until the following
  occur:
         1.  The Home State license is no longer encumbered; and
         2.  Have not had any Encumbrance or restriction against any
  license or Privilege to Practice within the previous two (2) years.
  F.  Once an Encumbered License in the Home State is restored to good
  standing, the Licensee must meet the requirements of Section 4(A)
  to obtain a Privilege to Practice in any Remote State.
  G.  If a Licensee's Privilege to Practice in any Remote State is
  removed, the individual may lose the Privilege to Practice in all
  other Remote States until the following occur:
         1.  The specific period of time for which the Privilege to
  Practice was removed has ended;
         2.  All fines have been paid; and
         3.  Have not had any Encumbrance or restriction against any
  license or Privilege to Practice within the previous two (2) years.
  H.  Once the requirements of Section 4(G) have been met, the
  Licensee must meet the requirements in Section 4(A) to obtain a
  Privilege to Practice in a Remote State.
  SECTION 5:  OBTAINING A NEW HOME STATE LICENSE BASED ON A PRIVILEGE
  TO PRACTICE
  A.  A Licensed Professional Counselor may hold a Home State
  license, which allows for a Privilege to Practice in other Member
  States, in only one Member State at a time.
  B.  If a Licensed Professional Counselor changes primary State of
  residence by moving between two Member States:
         1.  The Licensed Professional Counselor shall file an
  application for obtaining a new Home State license based on a
  Privilege to Practice, pay all applicable fees, and notify the
  current and new Home State in accordance with applicable Rules
  adopted by the Commission.
         2.  Upon receipt of an application for obtaining a new Home
  State license by virtue of a Privilege to Practice, the new Home
  State shall verify that the Licensed Professional Counselor meets
  the pertinent criteria outlined in Section 4 via the Data System,
  without need for primary source verification except for:
               a.  a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint based
  criminal background check if not previously performed or updated
  pursuant to applicable rules adopted by the Commission in
  accordance with Public Law 92-544;
               b.  other criminal background check as required by the
  new Home State; and
               c.  completion of any requisite Jurisprudence
  Requirements of the new Home State.
         3.  The former Home State shall convert the former Home State
  license into a Privilege to Practice once the new Home State has
  activated the new Home State license in accordance with applicable
  Rules adopted by the Commission.
         4.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Compact, if
  the Licensed Professional Counselor cannot meet the criteria in
  Section 4, the new Home State may apply its requirements for issuing
  a new Single State License.
         5.  The Licensed Professional Counselor shall pay all
  applicable fees to the new Home State in order to be issued a new
  Home State license.
  C.  If a Licensed Professional Counselor changes Primary State of
  Residence by moving from a Member State to a non-Member State, or
  from a non-Member State to a Member State, the State criteria shall
  apply for issuance of a Single State License in the new State.
  D.  Nothing in this Compact shall interfere with a Licensee's
  ability to hold a Single State License in multiple States, however
  for the purposes of this Compact, a Licensee shall have only one
  Home State license.
  E.  Nothing in this Compact shall affect the requirements
  established by a Member State for the issuance of a Single State
  License.
  SECTION 6.  ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR THEIR SPOUSES
  Active Duty Military personnel, or their spouse, shall designate a
  Home State where the individual has a current license in good
  standing. The individual may retain the Home State designation
  during the period the service member is on active duty. Subsequent
  to designating a Home State, the individual shall only change their
  Home State through application for licensure in the new State, or
  through the process outlined in Section 5.
  SECTION 7.  COMPACT PRIVILEGE TO PRACTICE TELEHEALTH
  A.  Member States shall recognize the right of a Licensed
  Professional Counselor, licensed by a Home State in accordance with
  Section 3 and under Rules promulgated by the Commission, to
  practice Professional Counseling in any Member State via Telehealth
  under a Privilege to Practice as provided in the Compact and Rules
  promulgated by the Commission.
  B.  A Licensee providing Professional Counseling services in a
  Remote State under the Privilege to Practice shall adhere to the
  laws and regulations of the Remote State.
  SECTION 8.  ADVERSE ACTIONS
  A.  In addition to the other powers conferred by State law, a Remote
  State shall have the authority, in accordance with existing State
  due process law, to:
         1.  Take Adverse Action against a Licensed Professional
  Counselor's Privilege to Practice within that Member State, and
         2.  Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations
  that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses as well as
  the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a Licensing Board
  in a Member State for the attendance and testimony of witnesses or
  the production of evidence from another Member State shall be
  enforced in the latter State by any court of competent
  jurisdiction, according to the practice and procedure of that court
  applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings pending before it.
  The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses,
  mileage, and other fees required by the service statutes of the
  State in which the witnesses or evidence are located.
         3.  Only the Home State shall have the power to take Adverse
  Action against a Licensed Professional Counselor's license issued
  by the Home State.
  B.  For purposes of taking Adverse Action, the Home State shall
  give the same priority and effect to reported conduct received from
  a Member State as it would if the conduct had occurred within the
  Home State. In so doing, the Home State shall apply its own State
  laws to determine appropriate action.
  C.  The Home State shall complete any pending investigations of a
  Licensed Professional Counselor who changes primary State of
  residence during the course of the investigations. The Home State
  shall also have the authority to take appropriate action(s) and
  shall promptly report the conclusions of the investigations to the
  administrator of the Data System. The administrator of the
  coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the
  new Home State of any Adverse Actions.
  D.  A Member State, if otherwise permitted by State law, may
  recover from the affected Licensed Professional Counselor the costs
  of investigations and dispositions of cases resulting from any
  Adverse Action taken against that Licensed Professional Counselor.
  E.  A Member State may take Adverse Action based on the factual
  findings of the Remote State, provided that the Member State
  follows its own procedures for taking the Adverse Action.
  F.  Joint Investigations:
         1.  In addition to the authority granted to a Member State by
  its respective Professional Counseling practice act or other
  applicable State law, any Member State may participate with other
  Member States in joint investigations of Licensees.
         2.  Member States shall share any investigative, litigation,
  or compliance materials in furtherance of any joint or individual
  investigation initiated under the Compact.
  G.  If Adverse Action is taken by the Home State against the license
  of a Licensed Professional Counselor, the Licensed Professional
  Counselor's Privilege to Practice in all other Member States shall
  be deactivated until all Encumbrances have been removed from the
  State license. All Home State disciplinary orders that impose
  Adverse Action against the license of a Licensed Professional
  Counselor shall include a Statement that the Licensed Professional
  Counselor's Privilege to Practice is deactivated in all Member
  States during the pendency of the order.
  H.  If a Member State takes Adverse Action, it shall promptly
  notify the administrator of the Data System. The administrator of
  the Data System shall promptly notify the Home State of any Adverse
  Actions by Remote States.
  I.  Nothing in this Compact shall override a Member State's
  decision that participation in an Alternative Program may be used
  in lieu of Adverse Action.
  SECTION 9.  ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNSELING COMPACT COMMISSION
  A.  The Compact Member States hereby create and establish a joint
  public agency known as the Counseling Compact Commission:
         1.  The Commission is an instrumentality of the Compact
  States.
         2.  Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against
  the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of
  competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission
  is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional
  defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in
  alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
         3.  Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a waiver
  of sovereign immunity.
  B.  Membership, Voting, and Meetings
         1.  Each Member State shall have and be limited to one (1)
  delegate selected by that Member State's Licensing Board.
         2.  The delegate shall be either:
               a.  A current member of the Licensing Board at the time
  of appointment, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor or public
  member; or
               b.  An administrator of the Licensing Board.
         3.  Any delegate may be removed or suspended from office as
  provided by the law of the State from which the delegate is
  appointed.
         4.  The Member State Licensing Board shall fill any vacancy
  occurring on the Commission within 60 days.
         5.  Each delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote with
  regard to the promulgation of Rules and creation of bylaws and shall
  otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and
  affairs of the Commission.
         6.  A delegate shall vote in person or by such other means as
  provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates'
  participation in meetings by telephone or other means of
  communication.
         7.  The Commission shall meet at least once during each
  calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in
  the bylaws.
         8.  The Commission shall by Rule establish a term of office
  for delegates and may by Rule establish term limits.
  C.  The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
         1.  Establish the fiscal year of the Commission;
         2.  Establish bylaws;
         3.  Maintain its financial records in accordance with the
  bylaws;
         4.  Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the
  provisions of this Compact and the bylaws;
         5.  Promulgate Rules which shall be binding to the extent and
  in the manner provided for in the Compact;
         6.  Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the
  name of the Commission, provided that the standing of any State
  Licensing Board to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be
  affected;
         7.  Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
         8.  Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel,
  including, but not limited to, employees of a Member State;
         9.  Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix
  compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate
  authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and establish
  the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to
  conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other
  related personnel matters;
         10.  Accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of
  money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to
  receive, utilize, and dispose of the same; provided that at all
  times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety
  and/or conflict of interest;
         11.  Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations
  of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real,
  personal or mixed; provided that at all times the Commission shall
  avoid any appearance of impropriety;
         12.  Sell convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange,
  abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property real, personal, or
  mixed;
         13.  Establish a budget and make expenditures;
         14.  Borrow money;
         15.  Appoint committees, including standing committees
  composed of members, State regulators, State legislators or their
  representatives, and consumer representatives, and such other
  interested persons as may be designated in this Compact and the
  bylaws;
         16.  Provide and receive information from, and cooperate
  with, law enforcement agencies;
         17.  Establish and elect an Executive Committee; and
         18.  Perform such other functions as may be necessary or
  appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact consistent with
  the State regulation of Professional Counseling licensure and
  practice.
  D.  The Executive Committee
         1.  The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on
  behalf of the Commission according to the terms of this Compact.
         2.  The Executive Committee shall be composed of up to eleven
  (11) members:
               a.  Seven voting members who are elected by the
  Commission from the current membership of the Commission; and
               b.  Up to four (4) ex-officio, nonvoting members from
  four (4) recognized national professional counselor organizations.
               c.  The ex-officio members will be selected by their
  respective organizations.
         3.  The Commission may remove any member of the Executive
  Committee as provided in bylaws.
         4.  The Executive Committee shall meet at least annually.
         5.  The Executive Committee shall have the following duties
  and responsibilities:
               a.  Recommend to the entire Commission changes to the
  Rules or bylaws, changes to this Compact legislation, fees paid by
  Compact Member States such as annual dues, and any Commission
  Compact fee charged to Licensees for the Privilege to Practice;
               b.  Ensure Compact administration services are
  appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise;
               c.  Prepare and recommend the budget;
               d.  Maintain financial records on behalf of the
  Commission;
               e.  Monitor Compact compliance of Member States and
  provide compliance reports to the Commission;
               f.  Establish additional committees as necessary; and
               g.  Other duties as provided in Rules or bylaws.
  E.  Meetings of the Commission
         1.  All meetings shall be open to the public, and public
  notice of meetings shall be given in the same manner as required
  under the Rulemaking provisions in Section 11.
         2.  The Commission or the Executive Committee or other
  committees of the Commission may convene in a closed, non-public
  meeting if the Commission or Executive Committee or other
  committees of the Commission must discuss:
               a.  Non-compliance of a Member State with its
  obligations under the Compact;
               b.  The employment, compensation, discipline or other
  matters, practices or procedures related to specific employees or
  other matters related to the Commission's internal personnel
  practices and procedures;
               c.  Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated
  litigation;
               d.  Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease,
  or sale of goods, services, or real estate;
               e.  Accusing any person of a crime or formally
  censuring any person;
               f.  Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or
  financial information that is privileged or confidential;
               g.  Disclosure of information of a personal nature
  where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
  personal privacy;
               h.  Disclosure of investigative records compiled for
  law enforcement purposes;
               i.  Disclosure of information related to any
  investigative reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use of the
  Commission or other committee charged with responsibility of
  investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to the
  Compact; or
               j.  Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by
  federal or Member State statute.
         3.  If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant
  to this provision, the Commission's legal counsel or designee shall
  certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each
  relevant exempting provision.
         4.  The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly
  describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full
  and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefore,
  including a description of the views expressed. All documents
  considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such
  minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain
  under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission
  or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
  F.  Financing of the Commission
         1.  The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of,
  the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and
  ongoing activities.
         2.  The Commission may accept any and all appropriate revenue
  sources, donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies,
  materials, and services.
         3.  The Commission may levy on and collect an annual
  assessment from each Member State or impose fees on other parties to
  cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission
  and its staff, which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover
  its annual budget as approved each year for which revenue is not
  provided by other sources. The aggregate annual assessment amount
  shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the
  Commission, which shall promulgate a Rule binding upon all Member
  States.
         4.  The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind
  prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the
  Commission pledge the credit of any of the Member States, except by
  and with the authority of the Member State.
         5.  The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all
  receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the
  Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures
  established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and
  disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be audited
  yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant, and the report
  of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual
  report of the Commission.
  G.  Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification
         1.  The members, officers, executive director, employees and
  representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and
  liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any
  claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other
  civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged
  act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against
  whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred
  within the scope of Commission employment, duties or
  responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be
  construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for
  any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or
  willful or wanton misconduct of that person.
         2.  The Commission shall defend any member, officer,
  executive director, employee or representative of the Commission in
  any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any
  actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the
  scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or
  that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable
  basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission
  employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that nothing
  herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining
  his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or
  alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that person's
  intentional or willful or wanton misconduct.
         3.  The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any
  member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative
  of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment
  obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged
  act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of
  Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such
  person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the
  scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities,
  provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not
  result from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that
  person.
  SECTION 10.  DATA SYSTEM
  A.  The Commission shall provide for the development, maintenance,
  operation, and utilization of a coordinated database and reporting
  system containing licensure, Adverse Action, and Investigative
  Information on all licensed individuals in Member States.
  B.  Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the
  contrary, a Member State shall submit a uniform data set to the Data
  System on all individuals to whom this Compact is applicable as
  required by the Rules of the Commission, including:
         1.  Identifying information;
         2.  Licensure data;
         3.  Adverse Actions against a license or Privilege to
  Practice;
         4.  Non-confidential information related to Alternative
  Program participation;
         5.  Any denial of application for licensure, and the
  reason(s) for such denial;
         6.  Current Significant Investigative Information; and
         7.  Other information that may facilitate the administration
  of this Compact, as determined by the Rules of the Commission.
  C.  Investigative Information pertaining to a Licensee in any
  Member State will only be available to other Member States.
  D.  The Commission shall promptly notify all Member States of any
  Adverse Action taken against a Licensee or an individual applying
  for a license. Adverse Action information pertaining to a Licensee
  in any Member State will be available to any other Member State.
  E.  Member States contributing information to the Data System may
  designate information that may not be shared with the public
  without the express permission of the contributing State.
  F.  Any information submitted to the Data System that is
  subsequently required to be expunged by the laws of the Member State
  contributing the information shall be removed from the Data System.
  SECTION 11.  RULEMAKING
  A.  The Commission shall promulgate reasonable Rules in order to
  effectively and efficiently achieve the purpose of the Compact.
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Commission
  exercises its Rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the
  scope of the purposes of the Compact, or the powers granted
  hereunder, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid
  and have no force or effect.
  B.  The Commission shall exercise its Rulemaking powers pursuant to
  the criteria set forth in this Section and the Rules adopted
  thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the
  date specified in each Rule or amendment.
  C.  If a majority of the legislatures of the Member States rejects a
  Rule, by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner
  used to adopt the Compact within four (4) years of the date of
  adoption of the Rule, then such Rule shall have no further force and
  effect in any Member State.
  D.  Rules or amendments to the Rules shall be adopted at a regular
  or special meeting of the Commission.
  E.  Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final Rule or Rules by
  the Commission, and at least thirty (30) days in advance of the
  meeting at which the Rule will be considered and voted upon, the
  Commission shall file a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:
         1.  On the website of the Commission or other publicly
  accessible platform; and
         2.  On the website of each Member State Professional
  Counseling Licensing Board or other publicly accessible platform or
  the publication in which each State would otherwise publish
  proposed Rules.
  F.  The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking shall include:
         1.  The proposed time, date, and location of the meeting in
  which the Rule will be considered and voted upon;
         2.  The text of the proposed Rule or amendment and the reason
  for the proposed Rule;
         3.  A request for comments on the proposed Rule from any
  interested person; and
         4.  The manner in which interested persons may submit notice
  to the Commission of their intention to attend the public hearing
  and any written comments.
  G.  Prior to adoption of a proposed Rule, the Commission shall
  allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and
  arguments, which shall be made available to the public.
  H.  The Commission shall grant an opportunity for a public hearing
  before it adopts a Rule or amendment if a hearing is requested by:
         1.  At least twenty-five (25) persons;
         2.  A State or federal governmental subdivision or agency; or
         3.  An association having at least twenty-five (25) members.
  I.  If a hearing is held on the proposed Rule or amendment, the
  Commission shall publish the place, time, and date of the scheduled
  public hearing. If the hearing is held via electronic means, the
  Commission shall publish the mechanism for access to the electronic
  hearing.
         1.  All persons wishing to be heard at the hearing shall
  notify the executive director of the Commission or other designated
  member in writing of their desire to appear and testify at the
  hearing not less than five (5) business days before the scheduled
  date of the hearing.
         2.  Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each
  person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to
  comment orally or in writing.
         3.  All hearings will be recorded. A copy of the recording
  will be made available on request.
         4.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a
  separate hearing on each Rule. Rules may be grouped for the
  convenience of the Commission at hearings required by this section.
  J.  Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close of
  business on the scheduled hearing date if the hearing was not held,
  the Commission shall consider all written and oral comments
  received.
  K.  If no written notice of intent to attend the public hearing by
  interested parties is received, the Commission may proceed with
  promulgation of the proposed Rule without a public hearing.
  L.  The Commission shall, by majority vote of all members, take
  final action on the proposed Rule and shall determine the effective
  date of the Rule, if any, based on the Rulemaking record and the
  full text of the Rule.
  M.  Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may
  consider and adopt an emergency Rule without prior notice,
  opportunity for comment, or hearing, provided that the usual
  Rulemaking procedures provided in the Compact and in this section
  shall be retroactively applied to the Rule as soon as reasonably
  possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the
  effective date of the Rule. For the purposes of this provision, an
  emergency Rule is one that must be adopted immediately in order to:
         1.  Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or
  welfare;
         2.  Prevent a loss of Commission or Member State funds;
         3.  Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative
  Rule that is established by federal law or Rule; or
         4.  Protect public health and safety.
  N.  The Commission or an authorized committee of the Commission may
  direct revisions to a previously adopted Rule or amendment for
  purposes of correcting typographical errors, errors in format,
  errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. Public notice of any
  revisions shall be posted on the website of the Commission. The
  revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of
  thirty (30) days after posting. The revision may be challenged only
  on grounds that the revision results in a material change to a Rule.
  A challenge shall be made in writing and delivered to the chair of
  the Commission prior to the end of the notice period. If no
  challenge is made, the revision will take effect without further
  action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take
  effect without the approval of the Commission.
  SECTION 12.  OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, AND ENFORCEMENT
  A.  Oversight
         1.  The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
  State government in each Member State shall enforce this Compact
  and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the
  Compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of this Compact and
  the Rules promulgated hereunder shall have standing as statutory
  law.
         2.  All courts shall take judicial notice of the Compact and
  the Rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a Member
  State pertaining to the subject matter of this Compact which may
  affect the powers, responsibilities, or actions of the Commission.
         3.  The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of
  process in any such proceeding and shall have standing to intervene
  in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service
  of process to the Commission shall render a judgment or order void
  as to the Commission, this Compact, or promulgated Rules.
  B.  Default, Technical Assistance, and Termination
         1.  If the Commission determines that a Member State has
  defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities
  under this Compact or the promulgated Rules, the Commission shall:
               a.  Provide written notice to the defaulting State and
  other Member States of the nature of the default, the proposed means
  of curing the default and/or any other action to be taken by the
  Commission; and
               b.  Provide remedial training and specific technical
  assistance regarding the default.
  C.  If a State in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting
  State may be terminated from the Compact upon an affirmative vote of
  a majority of the Member States, and all rights, privileges and
  benefits conferred by this Compact may be terminated on the
  effective date of termination. A cure of the default does not
  relieve the offending State of obligations or liabilities incurred
  during the period of default.
  D.  Termination of membership in the Compact shall be imposed only
  after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted.
  Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the
  Commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of
  the defaulting State's legislature, and each of the Member States.
  E.  A State that has been terminated is responsible for all
  assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the
  effective date of termination, including obligations that extend
  beyond the effective date of termination.
  F.  The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a State that
  is found to be in default or that has been terminated from the
  Compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the Commission and
  the defaulting State.
  G.  The defaulting State may appeal the action of the Commission by
  petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or
  the federal district where the Commission has its principal
  offices. The prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such
  litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
  H.  Dispute Resolution
         1.  Upon request by a Member State, the Commission shall
  attempt to resolve disputes related to the Compact that arise among
  Member States and between member and non-Member States.
         2.  The Commission shall promulgate a Rule providing for both
  mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes as
  appropriate.
  I.  Enforcement
         1.  The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its
  discretion, shall enforce the provisions and Rules of this Compact.
         2.  By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal
  action in the United States District Court for the District of
  Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its
  principal offices against a Member State in default to enforce
  compliance with the provisions of the Compact and its promulgated
  Rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive
  relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is
  necessary, the prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such
  litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
         3.  The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies
  of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any other remedies
  available under federal or State law.
  SECTION 13.  DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNSELING COMPACT
  COMMISSION AND ASSOCIATED RULES, WITHDRAWAL, AND AMENDMENT
  A.  The Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the
  Compact statute is enacted into law in the tenth Member State. The
  provisions, which become effective at that time, shall be limited
  to the powers granted to the Commission relating to assembly and the
  promulgation of Rules. Thereafter, the Commission shall meet and
  exercise Rulemaking powers necessary to the implementation and
  administration of the Compact.
  B.  Any State that joins the Compact subsequent to the Commission's
  initial adoption of the Rules shall be subject to the Rules as they
  exist on the date on which the Compact becomes law in that State.
  Any Rule that has been previously adopted by the Commission shall
  have the full force and effect of law on the day the Compact becomes
  law in that State.
  C.  Any Member State may withdraw from this Compact by enacting a
  statute repealing the same.
         1.  A Member State's withdrawal shall not take effect until
  six (6) months after enactment of the repealing statute.
         2.  Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement
  of the withdrawing State's Professional Counseling Licensing Board
  to comply with the investigative and Adverse Action reporting
  requirements of this act prior to the effective date of withdrawal.
  D.  Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to
  invalidate or prevent any Professional Counseling licensure
  agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a Member State
  and a non-Member State that does not conflict with the provisions of
  this Compact.
  E.  This Compact may be amended by the Member States. No amendment
  to this Compact shall become effective and binding upon any Member
  State until it is enacted into the laws of all Member States.
  SECTION 14.  CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY
  This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the
  purposes thereof. The provisions of this Compact shall be
  severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this
  Compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any Member
  State or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any
  government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the
  validity of the remainder of this Compact and the applicability
  thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not
  be affected thereby. If this Compact shall be held contrary to the
  constitution of any Member State, the Compact shall remain in full
  force and effect as to the remaining Member States and in full force
  and effect as to the Member State affected as to all severable
  matters.
  SECTION 15.  BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS
  A.  A Licensee providing Professional Counseling services in a
  Remote State under the Privilege to Practice shall adhere to the
  laws and regulations, including scope of practice, of the Remote
  State.
  B.  Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a
  Member State that is not inconsistent with the Compact.
  C.  Any laws in a Member State in conflict with the Compact are
  superseded to the extent of the conflict.
  D.  Any lawful actions of the Commission, including all Rules and
  bylaws properly promulgated by the Commission, are binding upon the
  Member States.
  E.  All permissible agreements between the Commission and the
  Member States are binding in accordance with their terms.
  F.  In the event any provision of the Compact exceeds the
  constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any Member
  State, the provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the
  conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that
  Member State.
         Sec. 503.502.  ADMINISTRATION OF COMPACT. The executive
  council is the Licensed Professional Counselors Compact
  administrator for this state.
         Sec. 503.503.  RULES. The executive council may adopt rules
  necessary to implement this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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