Bill Text: TX HB3145 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of chemical dependency counselors.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective immediately [HB3145 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB3145-Introduced.html
  82R7419 SLB-F
 
  By: Naishtat H.B. No. 3145
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of chemical dependency counselors.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 467.004(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 467.0041(b) of this code
  and Section 504.058, Occupations Code, a licensing or disciplinary
  authority may add a surcharge of not more than $10 to its license or
  license renewal fee to fund an approved peer assistance program.
  The authority must adopt the surcharge in accordance with the
  procedure that the authority uses to initiate and adopt an increase
  in its license or license renewal fee.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 504, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 504.058 to read as follows:
         Sec. 504.058.  FUNDING FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELOR
  PROGRAMS. (a)  The executive commissioner shall add a surcharge of
  not more than $10 to the license or license renewal fee for a
  license under this chapter to fund approved peer assistance
  programs for chemical dependency counselors.
         (b)  The department may collect a fee of not more than $50
  each month from a participant in an approved peer assistance
  program. Fees collected under this subsection shall be remitted to
  the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the chemical
  dependency counselor account.  The chemical dependency counselor
  account is an account in the general revenue fund.
         (c)  Subject to the General Appropriations Act, the
  department may use the fees and surcharges collected under this
  section and deposited in the chemical dependency counselor account
  only to fund approved peer assistance programs and to pay the
  administrative costs incurred by the department that are related to
  the programs.
         SECTION 3.  Section 504.152, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 504.152.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) To be
  eligible for a license under this chapter, a person must:
               (1)  be at least 18 years of age;
               (2)  hold an associate degree or a more advanced
  degree;
               (3)  have completed:
                     (A)  135 hours, or nine semester hours, specific
  to substance abuse disorders and treatment and an additional 135
  hours, or nine semester hours, specific or related to chemical
  dependency counseling;
                     (B)  4,000 hours of approved supervised
  experience working with chemically dependent persons; and
                     (C)  300 hours of approved supervised field work
  practicum;
               (4)  provide two letters of reference from chemical
  dependency counselors;
               (5)  pass a written examination approved by the
  department;
               (6)  submit a case presentation to the test
  administrator;
               (7)  [pass an oral examination approved by the
  department;
               [(8)]  be determined by the department to be worthy of
  the public trust and confidence;
               (8) [(9)]  successfully complete the chemical
  dependency counselor examination under Section 504.156;
               (9) [(10)]  sign a written agreement to comply with the
  standards of ethics approved by the department; and
               (10) [(11)]  provide to the department written
  assurance that the applicant has access to a peer assistance
  program.
         (b)  The department may waive the requirement under
  Subsection (a)(10) [(a)(11)] if the department determines that a
  peer assistance program is not reasonably available to the license
  holder.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 504.1525(a) and (b), Occupations Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the department may
  not issue a license, registration, or certification under this
  chapter to an applicant who has been:
               (1)  convicted or placed on community supervision
  during the three [five] years preceding the date of application in
  any jurisdiction for an offense equal to a Class B misdemeanor
  specified by executive commissioner rule;
               (2)  convicted or placed on community supervision in
  any jurisdiction for an offense equal to or greater than a Class A
  misdemeanor specified by executive commissioner rule; or
               (3)  found to be incapacitated by a court on the basis
  of a mental defect or disease.
         (b)  The department may issue a license, registration, or
  certification to a person convicted or placed on community
  supervision in any jurisdiction for a drug or alcohol offense
  described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) if the department determines
  that the applicant has successfully completed participation in an
  approved peer assistance program.
         SECTION 5.  (a)  The Department of State Health Services
  shall adopt rules to implement the changes in law made by this Act
  not later than December 1, 2011.
         (b)  Section 504.058, Occupations Code, as added by this Act,
  and Sections 504.152 and 504.1525, Occupations Code, as amended by
  this Act, apply only to an application for an original or renewal
  license, registration, or certification submitted to the
  Department of State Health Services on or after December 1, 2011. An
  application submitted before December 1, 2011, is governed by the
  law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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