BILL NUMBER: AB 2649INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Jones FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to add Sections 4980.09 and 4999.12.5 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2649, as introduced, Jones. Marriage and family therapist intern and professional clinical counselor intern: renaming. (1) Existing law, the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of marriage and family therapists by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. The act sets forth the educational and training requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist, including certain supervised-experience requirements whereby a prospective licensee is required to work a specified number of hours in a clinical setting under the supervision of experienced professionals. The act requires all persons to register with the board as an intern in order to be credited for postdegree hours of supervised experience gained toward licensure. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2018, deem any reference in any statute or regulation to "marriage and family therapist intern" to instead refer to "associate marriage and family therapist" and would deem any reference to "marriage and family therapist registered intern" to instead refer to "registered associate marriage and family therapist." (2) Existing law, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of professional clinical counselors by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. The act sets forth the educational and training requirements for licensure as a professional clinical counselor, including certain supervised-experience requirements whereby a prospective licensee is required to work a specified number of hours in a clinical setting under the supervision of experienced professionals. The act requires all persons to register with the board as an intern in order to be credited for postdegree hours of supervised experience gained toward licensure. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2018, deem any reference in any statute or regulation to "professional clinical counselor intern" to instead refer to "associate professional clinical counselor" and would deem any reference to "professional clinical counselor registered intern" to instead refer to "registered associate professional clinical counselor." Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 4980.09 is added to the Business and Professions Code, immediately following Section 4980.08, to read: 4980.09. (a) Notwithstanding any law, the titles "marriage and family therapist intern" and "marriage and family therapist registered intern" are hereby renamed "associate marriage and family therapist" and "registered associate marriage and family therapist," respectively. Any reference in any statute or regulation to a "marriage and family therapist intern" or "marriage and family therapist registered intern" shall be deemed a reference to a "registered associate marriage and family therapist" and "registered associate marriage and family therapist," respectively. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter. (c) This section shall become operative January 1, 2018. SEC. 2. Section 4999.12.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, immediately following Section 4999.12, to read: 4999.12.5. (a) Notwithstanding any law, the titles "professional clinical counselor intern" and "professional clinical counselor registered intern" are hereby renamed "associate professional clinical counselor" and "registered associate professional clinical counselor," respectively. Any reference in any statute or regulation to a "professional clinical counselor intern" or "professional clinical counselor registered intern" shall be deemed a reference to an "associate professional clinical counselor" and "registered associate professional clinical counselor," respectively. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter. (c) This section shall become operative January 1, 2018.