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Colorado Senate Bill SB015

Colorado 2024 Regular Session

Colorado Senate Bill SB015 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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11 Second Regular Session
22 Seventy-fourth General Assembly
33 STATE OF COLORADO
44 INTRODUCED
55
66
77 LLS NO. 24-0004.01 Alana Rosen x2606
88 SENATE BILL 24-015
99 Senate Committees House Committees
1010 Health & Human Services
1111 A BILL FOR AN ACT
1212 C
1313 ONCERNING INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL101
1414 COUNSELORS IN COMMUNITIES .102
1515 Bill Summary
1616 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
1717 not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
1818 passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
1919 applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
2020 http://leg.colorado.gov
2121 .)
2222 The bill creates the dual licensure stipend program (stipend
2323 program) in the division of professions and occupations (division). The
2424 purpose of the stipend program is to increase the number of licensed
2525 professional counselors in communities by:
2626 ! Reimbursing licensed professional counselor supervisors
2727 (supervisors) who provide clinical supervision to school
2828 SENATE SPONSORSHIP
2929 Kolker,
3030 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
3131 Young,
3232 Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
3333 Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
3434 Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. counselors who are seeking licensure as licensed
3535 professional counselors (dual licensure candidate); and
3636 ! Reimbursing dual licensure candidates for the cost of
3737 examination fees and application fees.
3838 A dual licensure candidate is eligible for the stipend program if the
3939 dual licensure candidate is a licensed special services provider and has
4040 completed a master's or doctoral degree in professional counseling from
4141 an accredited school or college or an equivalent program.
4242 The bill requires the division to contract with a Colorado nonprofit
4343 organization or membership organization (Colorado organization) to
4444 manage and administer the stipend program. The Colorado organization
4545 must have experience administrating grant programs and working with
4646 school counselors or mental health professionals.
4747 The bill requires the division to provide the Colorado organization
4848 publicly available information on supervisors who can provide clinical
4949 supervision to dual licensure candidates. The Colorado organization shall
5050 maintain the list of supervisors by confirming whether a supervisor opts
5151 in to the stipend program and provides clinical supervision to dual
5252 licensure candidates. The Colorado organization shall determine a set rate
5353 for supervisors who provide clinical supervision to dual licensure
5454 candidates.
5555 The bill requires the Colorado organization to annually collect data
5656 on:
5757 ! The number of dual licensure candidates participating in
5858 the stipend program;
5959 ! The number of supervisors participating in the stipend
6060 program; and
6161 ! The geographic locations of the dual licensure candidates
6262 and supervisors participating in the stipend program.
6363 The Colorado organization shall draft a report summarizing the
6464 data collected. The bill requires the division to submit the report to the
6565 education committee and the public and behavioral health and human
6666 services committee of the house of representatives, the education
6767 committee and the health and human services committee of the senate, or
6868 their successor committees.
6969 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
7070 SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
7171 finds and declares that:3
7272 (a) Suicide is a leading cause of death among Colorado youth;4
7373 (b) Schools play an increasingly critical role in supporting5
7474 SB24-015-2- students and their mental health;1
7575 (c) School counselors receive extensive mental health training and2
7676 hold a master's degree in school counseling;3
7777 (d) School counselors typically refer students to licensed4
7878 professional counselors, but it can often take weeks or months before5
7979 students meet with the licensed professional counselors;6
8080 (e) There is limited access to licensed professional counselors7
8181 across the state, specifically in rural areas; and8
8282 (f) School counselors have the ability to seek dual licensure as a9
8383 school counselor and a licensed professional counselor, but the pathway10
8484 to dual licensure can be costly.11
8585 (2) The general assembly, therefore, finds that barriers must be12
8686 reduced for school counselors who are seeking dual licensure as licensed13
8787 professional counselors. Providing financial assistance to support school14
8888 counselors who seek dual licensure as licensed professional counselors15
8989 will help alleviate the mental health workforce shortage and provide16
9090 mental health supports for students.17
9191 SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 12-245-608 as18
9292 follows:19
9393 12-245-608. Dual licensure stipend program - creation -20
9494 licensed professional counselor supervisors - report - rules -21
9595 definitions. (1) A
9696 S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT22
9797 OTHERWISE REQUIRES:23
9898 (a) "C
9999 OLORADO ORGANIZATION " MEANS:24
100100 (I) A
101101 STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT25
102102 FROM TAXATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 501 (c)(3) OF THE FEDERAL26
103103 "I
104104 NTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986", 26 U.S.C. SEC. 501, AS AMENDED,27
105105 SB24-015
106106 -3- AND IS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE COLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE ; OR1
107107 (II) A
108108 STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES AS2
109109 A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION PURSUANT3
110110 TO SECTION 501 (c) OF THE FEDERAL "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF4
111111 1986",
112112 26 U.S.C. SEC. 501, AS AMENDED; HAS MEMBERS WHO PAY5
113113 REGULAR MEMBERSHIP DUES ; AND IS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE6
114114 C
115115 OLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE ; AND7
116116 (III) E
117117 NTERS INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE DIVISION TO MANAGE8
118118 AND ADMINISTER THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM PURSUANT TO9
119119 SUBSECTION (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION.10
120120 (b) "D
121121 UAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE" MEANS A COLORADO SCHOOL11
122122 COUNSELOR WHO HAS A SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDER LICENSE WITH A12
123123 SCHOOL COUNSELOR ENDORSEMENT ISSUED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 60.513
124124 OF TITLE 22 AND WHO IS SEEKING DUAL LICENSURE AS A LICENSED14
125125 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR .15
126126 (c) "D
127127 UAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM" OR "STIPEND PROGRAM"16
128128 MEANS THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION17
129129 (2)
130130 OF THIS SECTION.18
131131 (d) "H
132132 ARDSHIP" MEANS A FINANCIAL , MEDICAL, OR OTHER19
133133 HARDSHIP DEMONSTRATED BY THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE .20
134134 (e) "S
135135 CHOOL-BASED THERAPIST" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS A21
136136 LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS PART22
137137 6
138138 AND IS EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL , AS DEFINED IN SECTION23
139139 23-3.9-101.24
140140 (2) T
141141 HE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM IS CREATED IN THE25
142142 DIVISION. THE PURPOSE OF THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM IS TO26
143143 INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS WHO27
144144 SB24-015
145145 -4- WORK IN COMMUNITIES BY:1
146146 (a) R
147147 EIMBURSING LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR2
148148 SUPERVISORS WHO PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION TO DUAL LICENSURE3
149149 CANDIDATES; AND4
150150 (b) R
151151 EIMBURSING DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES FOR THE COST OF5
152152 EXAMINATION FEES AND APPLICATION FEES PURSUANT TO SECTION6
153153 12-245-205.7
154154 (3) (a) O
155155 N OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2025, THE DIVISION SHALL8
156156 CONTRACT WITH A COLORADO ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE AND9
157157 ADMINISTER THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM . THE COLORADO10
158158 ORGANIZATION MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE ADMINISTERING GRANT11
159159 PROGRAMS AND WORKING WITH SC HOOL COUNSELORS OR MENTAL HEALTH12
160160 PROFESSIONALS. THE DIVISION SHALL COMPLY WITH THE "PROCUREMENT13
161161 C
162162 ODE", ARTICLES 101 TO 112 OF TITLE 24, IN SELECTING AND14
163163 CONTRACTING WITH A COLORADO ORGANIZATION TO SERVE AS THE15
164164 STIPEND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR .16
165165 (b) T
166166 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL NOT RETAIN MORE THAN17
167167 TEN PERCENT OF CONTRACT FUNDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS .18
168168 (4) (a) A
169169 DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE19
170170 STIPEND PROGRAM IF THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE IS A LICENSED20
171171 SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDER, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-60.5-102, AND21
172172 HAS COMPLETED A MASTER 'S OR DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PROFESSIONAL22
173173 COUNSELING FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR AN23
174174 EQUIVALENT PROGRAM AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD . THE DEGREE OR24
175175 PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE A PRACTICUM OR INTERNSHIP IN THE PRINCIPLES25
176176 AND PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING .26
177177 (b) A
178178 DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE MUST SELECT A LICENSED27
179179 SB24-015
180180 -5- PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR WHO HAS OPTED IN TO1
181181 PARTICIPATE IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM TO FULFILL THE DUAL LICENSURE2
182182 CANDIDATE'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS.3
183183 (c) A
184184 DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE SHALL ENTER INTO A4
185185 CONTRACT WITH THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION THAT REQUIRES THE5
186186 DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE TO REMAIN EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC SC HOOL ,6
187187 AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-3.9-101, AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR7
188188 SCHOOL-BASED THERAPIST FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE THE8
189189 DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE IS LICENSED AS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL9
190190 COUNSELOR OR REPAY THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION FOR THE DUAL10
191191 LICENSURE CANDIDATE'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS, EXAMINATION11
192192 FEES, AND APPLICATION FEES, UNLESS THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE12
193193 CAN PROVE A HARDSHIP.13
194194 (d) I
195195 F A DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE VIOLATES THE CONTRACT14
196196 DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4)(c) OF THIS SECTION, THE DUAL LICENSURE15
197197 CANDIDATE MUST REPAY THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION FOR THE DUAL16
198198 LICENSURE CANDIDATE'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS, EXAMINATION17
199199 FEES, AND APPLICATION FEES, UNLESS THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE18
200200 CAN PROVE A HARDSHIP.19
201201 (5) (a) T
202202 HE DIVISION SHALL PROVIDE THE COLORADO20
203203 ORGANIZATION WITH PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON LICENSED21
204204 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS WHO CAN OFFER CLINICAL22
205205 SUPERVISION TO DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES .23
206206 (b) T
207207 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL MAINTAIN THE LIST OF24
208208 LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS DESCRIBED IN25
209209 SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION BY CONFIRMING WHETHER A LICENSED26
210210 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR OPTS IN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE27
211211 SB24-015
212212 -6- STIPEND PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION TO DUAL1
213213 LICENSURE CANDIDATES.2
214214 (c) T
215215 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL ESTABLISH :3
216216 (I) A
217217 N APPLICATION PROCESS FOR DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES4
218218 TO APPLY TO THE STIPEND PROGRAM ;5
219219 (II) A
220220 PROCESS FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR6
221221 SUPERVISORS TO ANNUALLY OPT IN TO THE STIPEND PROGRAM ; AND7
222222 (III) A
223223 REPAYMENT PROCESS FOR DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES8
224224 WHO VIOLATE THE CONTRACT DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4)(c) OF THIS9
225225 SECTION.10
226226 (d) T
227227 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL DETERMINE A SET RATE11
228228 FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS WHO PROVIDE12
229229 CLINICAL SUPERVISION TO DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES . LICENSED13
230230 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS SHALL NOT CHARGE DUAL14
231231 LICENSURE CANDIDATES ADDITIONAL FEES FOR CLINICAL SUPERVISION .15
232232 (e) A
233233 LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR SHALL16
234234 TRACK CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS FOR EACH DUAL LICENSURE17
235235 CANDIDATE THE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR18
236236 CLINICALLY SUPERVISES. THE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR19
237237 SUPERVISOR SHALL SUBMIT AN INVOICE EACH MONTH TO THE COLORADO20
238238 ORGANIZATION. THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL REIMBURSE THE21
239239 LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR ONCE THE COLORADO22
240240 ORGANIZATION RECEIVES THE INVOICE .23
241241 (6) T
242242 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION MUST REIMBURSE A DUAL24
243243 LICENSURE CANDIDATE FOR EXAMINATION FEES AND APPLICATION FEES IF25
244244 THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE HAS DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONAL26
245245 COMPETENCIES BY PASSING THE EXAMINATIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTION27
246246 SB24-015
247247 -7- 12-245-604 (1)(e) AND PROVIDES THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION WITH1
248248 PROOF OF PAYMENT FOR THE EXAMINATION FEES AND FOR THE2
249249 APPLICATION FEES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 12-245-205.3
250250 (7) (a) T
251251 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL ANNUALLY COLLECT4
252252 THE FOLLOWING DATA:5
253253 (I) T
254254 HE NUMBER OF DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING6
255255 IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM;7
256256 (II) T
257257 HE NUMBER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR8
258258 SUPERVISORS PARTICIPATING IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM ; AND9
259259 (III) T
260260 HE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS OF THE DUAL LICENSURE10
261261 CANDIDATES DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (7)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION AND11
262262 LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS DESCRIBED IN12
263263 SUBSECTION (7)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION.13
264264 (b) T
265265 HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL DRAFT A REPORT14
266266 SUMMARIZING THE DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (7)(a) OF15
267267 THIS SECTION. ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2026, AND EACH JANUARY 1516
268268 THEREAFTER, THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT17
269269 TO THE DIVISION.18
270270 (c) O
271271 N OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 15, 2026, AND EACH FEBRUARY 1519
272272 THEREAFTER, THE DIVISION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE EDUCATION20
273273 COMMITTEE AND THE PUBL IC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HUMAN21
274274 SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , THE22
275275 EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES23
276276 COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES .24
277277 (d) N
278278 OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13625
279279 (11)(a)(I),
280280 THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN THIS26
281281 SUBSECTION (7) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.27
282282 SB24-015
283283 -8- (8) THE DIVISION MAY PROMULGATE RULES AS NECESSARY TO1
284284 IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.2
285285 SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,3
286286 determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate4
287287 preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for5
288288 the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state6
289289 institutions.7
290290 SB24-015
291291 -9-