Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 24-0004.01 Alana Rosen x2606
SENATE BILL 24-015
Senate Committees House Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL101
COUNSELORS IN COMMUNITIES .102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill creates the dual licensure stipend program (stipend
program) in the division of professions and occupations (division). The
purpose of the stipend program is to increase the number of licensed
professional counselors in communities by:
! Reimbursing licensed professional counselor supervisors
(supervisors) who provide clinical supervision to school
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Kolker,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Young,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. counselors who are seeking licensure as licensed
professional counselors (dual licensure candidate); and
! Reimbursing dual licensure candidates for the cost of
examination fees and application fees.
A dual licensure candidate is eligible for the stipend program if the
dual licensure candidate is a licensed special services provider and has
completed a master's or doctoral degree in professional counseling from
an accredited school or college or an equivalent program.
The bill requires the division to contract with a Colorado nonprofit
organization or membership organization (Colorado organization) to
manage and administer the stipend program. The Colorado organization
must have experience administrating grant programs and working with
school counselors or mental health professionals.
The bill requires the division to provide the Colorado organization
publicly available information on supervisors who can provide clinical
supervision to dual licensure candidates. The Colorado organization shall
maintain the list of supervisors by confirming whether a supervisor opts
in to the stipend program and provides clinical supervision to dual
licensure candidates. The Colorado organization shall determine a set rate
for supervisors who provide clinical supervision to dual licensure
candidates.
The bill requires the Colorado organization to annually collect data
on:
! The number of dual licensure candidates participating in
the stipend program;
! The number of supervisors participating in the stipend
program; and
! The geographic locations of the dual licensure candidates
and supervisors participating in the stipend program.
The Colorado organization shall draft a report summarizing the
data collected. The bill requires the division to submit the report to the
education committee and the public and behavioral health and human
services committee of the house of representatives, the education
committee and the health and human services committee of the senate, or
their successor committees.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Suicide is a leading cause of death among Colorado youth;4
(b) Schools play an increasingly critical role in supporting5
SB24-015-2- students and their mental health;1
(c) School counselors receive extensive mental health training and2
hold a master's degree in school counseling;3
(d) School counselors typically refer students to licensed4
professional counselors, but it can often take weeks or months before5
students meet with the licensed professional counselors;6
(e) There is limited access to licensed professional counselors7
across the state, specifically in rural areas; and8
(f) School counselors have the ability to seek dual licensure as a9
school counselor and a licensed professional counselor, but the pathway10
to dual licensure can be costly.11
(2) The general assembly, therefore, finds that barriers must be12
reduced for school counselors who are seeking dual licensure as licensed13
professional counselors. Providing financial assistance to support school14
counselors who seek dual licensure as licensed professional counselors15
will help alleviate the mental health workforce shortage and provide16
mental health supports for students.17
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 12-245-608 as18
follows:19
12-245-608. Dual licensure stipend program - creation -20
licensed professional counselor supervisors - report - rules -21
definitions. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT22
OTHERWISE REQUIRES:23
(a) "C
OLORADO ORGANIZATION " MEANS:24
(I) A
STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT25
FROM TAXATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 501 (c)(3) OF THE FEDERAL26
"I
NTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986", 26 U.S.C. SEC. 501, AS AMENDED,27
SB24-015
-3- AND IS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE COLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE ; OR1
(II) A
STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES AS2
A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION PURSUANT3
TO SECTION 501 (c) OF THE FEDERAL "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF4
1986",
26 U.S.C. SEC. 501, AS AMENDED; HAS MEMBERS WHO PAY5
REGULAR MEMBERSHIP DUES ; AND IS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE6
C
OLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE ; AND7
(III) E
NTERS INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE DIVISION TO MANAGE8
AND ADMINISTER THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM PURSUANT TO9
SUBSECTION (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION.10
(b) "D
UAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE" MEANS A COLORADO SCHOOL11
COUNSELOR WHO HAS A SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDER LICENSE WITH A12
SCHOOL COUNSELOR ENDORSEMENT ISSUED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 60.513
OF TITLE 22 AND WHO IS SEEKING DUAL LICENSURE AS A LICENSED14
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR .15
(c) "D
UAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM" OR "STIPEND PROGRAM"16
MEANS THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION17
(2)
OF THIS SECTION.18
(d) "H
ARDSHIP" MEANS A FINANCIAL , MEDICAL, OR OTHER19
HARDSHIP DEMONSTRATED BY THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE .20
(e) "S
CHOOL-BASED THERAPIST" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS A21
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS PART22
6
AND IS EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL , AS DEFINED IN SECTION23
23-3.9-101.24
(2) T
HE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM IS CREATED IN THE25
DIVISION. THE PURPOSE OF THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM IS TO26
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS WHO27
SB24-015
-4- WORK IN COMMUNITIES BY:1
(a) R
EIMBURSING LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR2
SUPERVISORS WHO PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION TO DUAL LICENSURE3
CANDIDATES; AND4
(b) R
EIMBURSING DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES FOR THE COST OF5
EXAMINATION FEES AND APPLICATION FEES PURSUANT TO SECTION6
12-245-205.7
(3) (a) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2025, THE DIVISION SHALL8
CONTRACT WITH A COLORADO ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE AND9
ADMINISTER THE DUAL LICENSURE STIPEND PROGRAM . THE COLORADO10
ORGANIZATION MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE ADMINISTERING GRANT11
PROGRAMS AND WORKING WITH SC HOOL COUNSELORS OR MENTAL HEALTH12
PROFESSIONALS. THE DIVISION SHALL COMPLY WITH THE "PROCUREMENT13
C
ODE", ARTICLES 101 TO 112 OF TITLE 24, IN SELECTING AND14
CONTRACTING WITH A COLORADO ORGANIZATION TO SERVE AS THE15
STIPEND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR .16
(b) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL NOT RETAIN MORE THAN17
TEN PERCENT OF CONTRACT FUNDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS .18
(4) (a) A
DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE19
STIPEND PROGRAM IF THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE IS A LICENSED20
SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDER, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-60.5-102, AND21
HAS COMPLETED A MASTER 'S OR DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PROFESSIONAL22
COUNSELING FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR AN23
EQUIVALENT PROGRAM AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD . THE DEGREE OR24
PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE A PRACTICUM OR INTERNSHIP IN THE PRINCIPLES25
AND PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING .26
(b) A
DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE MUST SELECT A LICENSED27
SB24-015
-5- PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR WHO HAS OPTED IN TO1
PARTICIPATE IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM TO FULFILL THE DUAL LICENSURE2
CANDIDATE'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS.3
(c) A
DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE SHALL ENTER INTO A4
CONTRACT WITH THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION THAT REQUIRES THE5
DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE TO REMAIN EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC SC HOOL ,6
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-3.9-101, AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR7
SCHOOL-BASED THERAPIST FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE THE8
DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE IS LICENSED AS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL9
COUNSELOR OR REPAY THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION FOR THE DUAL10
LICENSURE CANDIDATE'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS, EXAMINATION11
FEES, AND APPLICATION FEES, UNLESS THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE12
CAN PROVE A HARDSHIP.13
(d) I
F A DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE VIOLATES THE CONTRACT14
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4)(c) OF THIS SECTION, THE DUAL LICENSURE15
CANDIDATE MUST REPAY THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION FOR THE DUAL16
LICENSURE CANDIDATE'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS, EXAMINATION17
FEES, AND APPLICATION FEES, UNLESS THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE18
CAN PROVE A HARDSHIP.19
(5) (a) T
HE DIVISION SHALL PROVIDE THE COLORADO20
ORGANIZATION WITH PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON LICENSED21
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS WHO CAN OFFER CLINICAL22
SUPERVISION TO DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES .23
(b) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL MAINTAIN THE LIST OF24
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS DESCRIBED IN25
SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION BY CONFIRMING WHETHER A LICENSED26
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR OPTS IN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE27
SB24-015
-6- STIPEND PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION TO DUAL1
LICENSURE CANDIDATES.2
(c) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL ESTABLISH :3
(I) A
N APPLICATION PROCESS FOR DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES4
TO APPLY TO THE STIPEND PROGRAM ;5
(II) A
PROCESS FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR6
SUPERVISORS TO ANNUALLY OPT IN TO THE STIPEND PROGRAM ; AND7
(III) A
REPAYMENT PROCESS FOR DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES8
WHO VIOLATE THE CONTRACT DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4)(c) OF THIS9
SECTION.10
(d) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL DETERMINE A SET RATE11
FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS WHO PROVIDE12
CLINICAL SUPERVISION TO DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES . LICENSED13
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS SHALL NOT CHARGE DUAL14
LICENSURE CANDIDATES ADDITIONAL FEES FOR CLINICAL SUPERVISION .15
(e) A
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR SHALL16
TRACK CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS FOR EACH DUAL LICENSURE17
CANDIDATE THE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR18
CLINICALLY SUPERVISES. THE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR19
SUPERVISOR SHALL SUBMIT AN INVOICE EACH MONTH TO THE COLORADO20
ORGANIZATION. THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL REIMBURSE THE21
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR ONCE THE COLORADO22
ORGANIZATION RECEIVES THE INVOICE .23
(6) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION MUST REIMBURSE A DUAL24
LICENSURE CANDIDATE FOR EXAMINATION FEES AND APPLICATION FEES IF25
THE DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATE HAS DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONAL26
COMPETENCIES BY PASSING THE EXAMINATIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTION27
SB24-015
-7- 12-245-604 (1)(e) AND PROVIDES THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION WITH1
PROOF OF PAYMENT FOR THE EXAMINATION FEES AND FOR THE2
APPLICATION FEES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 12-245-205.3
(7) (a) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL ANNUALLY COLLECT4
THE FOLLOWING DATA:5
(I) T
HE NUMBER OF DUAL LICENSURE CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING6
IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM;7
(II) T
HE NUMBER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR8
SUPERVISORS PARTICIPATING IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM ; AND9
(III) T
HE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS OF THE DUAL LICENSURE10
CANDIDATES DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (7)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION AND11
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISORS DESCRIBED IN12
SUBSECTION (7)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION.13
(b) T
HE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL DRAFT A REPORT14
SUMMARIZING THE DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (7)(a) OF15
THIS SECTION. ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2026, AND EACH JANUARY 1516
THEREAFTER, THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT17
TO THE DIVISION.18
(c) O
N OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 15, 2026, AND EACH FEBRUARY 1519
THEREAFTER, THE DIVISION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE EDUCATION20
COMMITTEE AND THE PUBL IC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HUMAN21
SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , THE22
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES23
COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES .24
(d) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13625
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN THIS26
SUBSECTION (7) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.27
SB24-015
-8- (8) THE DIVISION MAY PROMULGATE RULES AS NECESSARY TO1
IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.2
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,3
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate4
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for5
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state6
institutions.7
SB24-015
-9-