Bill Text - HB239 (2019)

(New Title) relative to requirements for supervision for licensure of certain mental health and drug counselors.


Revision: Dec. 27, 2018, 3:14 p.m.

HB 239 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2019 SESSION

19-0223

10/01

 

HOUSE BILL 239

 

AN ACT relative to license requirements for certain mental health and drug counselors.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Flanagan, Hills. 26; Rep. Horn, Merr. 2; Rep. Rice, Hills. 37; Rep. Lundgren, Rock. 5

 

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill reduces the number of hours or work experience required for licensure as a master licensed alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed clinical supervisor, a clinical social worker, and a clinical mental health counselor.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19-0223

10/01

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT relative to license requirements for certain mental health and drug counselors.

 

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

 

1  Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor; Training Required.  Amend RSA 330-C:16, III to read as follows:

III.  Complete [3,000] 1,500 hours of clinically supervised post-masters degree work experience in the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders.  [Up to 1,500] Hours of clinically supervised work experience accumulated by the applicant during his or her practice as an LADC may be counted toward the required [3,000] 1,500 hours.  In addition, a current license issued by the board of mental health practice may be substituted for the 1,500 hours of [the] required [3,000 hours of] clinically supervised work experience.

2  Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor; Training Required.  Amend RSA 330-C:17, I to read as follows:

I.(a)  Have graduated with an associate's degree in substance use counseling, addiction studies, or equivalent program, obtained 300 hours of alcohol and drug use education within the degree-granting program or separately, completed [6,000] 1,500 hours of supervised work experience, and completed 300 hours of supervised practical training within the degree-granting program, as part of the supervised work experience or separately; or

(b)  Have graduated with a bachelor's degree in a clinical mental health, social work, psychology, substance use counseling, addiction studies, human services discipline, or equivalent program from an accredited college or university, obtained 300 hours of alcohol and drug use education within the degree-granting program or separately, completed [4,000] 1,500 hours of supervised work experience, and completed 300 hours of supervised practical training within the degree-granting program, as part of the supervised work experience or separately.

3  Licensed Clinical Supervisor; Training Required.  Amend RSA 330-C:18, II and III to read as follows:

II.  Have [10,000] 5,000 hours of experience as an alcohol and drug counselor;

III.  Have [4,000] 1,500 hours of experience as a clinical supervisor supervising professionals providing alcohol and drug counseling, which hours may be accumulated by the applicant as part of the experience requirements in paragraph II;

4  Applicants From Other States; Training Hours Required.  Amend RSA 330-C:21, II(b) to read as follows:

(b)  Have completed [3,000] 1,500 hours of clinically supervised work experience in the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders.  These hours may be completed after the applicant has been issued the master's degree.  [Up to 1,500] Hours of clinically supervised work experience accumulated by the applicant during his or her practice as a LADC may be counted toward the required [3,000] 1,500 hours.  In addition, a current license issued by the board of mental health practice may be substituted for the 1,500 hours of [the] required [3,000 hours of] clinically supervised work experience;

5  Clinical Social Workers; Training Hours Required.  Amend RSA 330-A:18, III to read as follows:

III.  Has completed a minimum of 2 years of post-masters experience including completion of a minimum of [3,000] 1,500 hours of post-masters, supervised clinical experience by a board approved licensed independent clinical social worker or licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor, or any other supervisor based on reasonable and specific criteria established in rules adopted under RSA 330-A:10.

6  Clinical Mental Health Counselors; Training Hours Required.  Amend RSA 330-A:19, III to read as follows:

III.  Has completed a minimum of 2 years of post-masters experience including completion of a minimum of [3,000] 1,500 hours of post-masters, supervised clinical experience by a board approved licensed independent clinical social worker or licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor, or any other supervisor based on reasonable and specific criteria established in rules adopted under RSA 330-A:10.

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