Marriage and family therapists: clinical social workers: professional clinical counselors.
The bill expands the scope of allowable supervisory practices by increasing the maximum number of supervisees that a licensed supervisor can oversee from three to six. This change is expected to improve access to supervision for associates and trainees in the field of mental health, enabling more individuals to gain the necessary experience for licensure. New definitions for 'nonexempt settings' are provided, which delineate the contexts in which licensed professionals can operate, thereby clarifying regulatory expectations and operational frameworks for mental health practices.
Assembly Bill 2363, introduced by Assembly Member Arambula, amends various sections of the Business and Professions Code to reform the regulation of marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and professional clinical counselors. The bill is aimed at enhancing the standards of practice and supervision in the mental health profession. It introduces several key changes, including the requirement for supervision of unlicensed or unregistered employees or volunteers to occur under oversight and direction rather than solely under supervision, a measure aimed at promoting greater accountability in practice settings.
Despite its intended benefits, AB 2363 has drawn some criticisms, particularly concerning the broadening of supervisory ratios and the potential for diminished supervisory quality. Opponents argue that allowing supervisors to oversee more individuals may lead to inadequately supervised trainees and associates, ultimately jeopardizing client care. Additionally, the bill specifies that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies incurring costs related to its enforcement, which some view as a financial burden on local jurisdictions that adopt the new provisions.