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A BILL 7
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25-55 9
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 11
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To support an educational and career pathway for behavioral health and human services 16
occupations in the District by establishing a scholarship program at the University of the 17
District of Columbia for District residents, employees, and public school graduates who 18
pursue certain master’s degree programs and licensure from the Board of Professional 19
Counseling or the Board of Social Work. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 22
act may be cited as the “Pathways to Behavioral Health Degrees Act of 2023”. 23
Sec. 2. Definitions. 24
For the purposes of this subtitle, the term: 25
(1) “Accredited Master’s Degree” means an accredited master’s degree under the 26
Middle States Commission on Higher Education in counseling, school counseling, clinical 27
mental health counseling, social work or other masters’ degree programs accepted by the Board 28
of Professional Counseling or the Board of Social Work for the purposes of licensure in a 29
behavioral health and human services occupation. 30
(2) “Behavioral health and human services occupation” means an occupation that 31
requires a worker to be licensed by the Board of Professional Counseling or the Board of Social 32
Work. 33
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(3) “DCPS” means the District of Columbia Public Schools. 34
(4) “Health care provider organization” means any entity licensed under federal, 35
state, or District law to provide health care services, including provider organizations certified by 36
the Department of Behavioral Health and including group practice provider organizations 37
enrolled in the District’s Medicaid program. 38
(5) “LEA” means local education agency, which is DCPS or any individual or 39
group of public charter schools operating under a single charter. 40
(6) “Program” means the Behavioral Health and Human Services Scholarship 41
Program established pursuant to this act. 42
(7) “UDC” means the University of the District of Columbia. 43
Sec. 3. Program establishment. 44
(a)(1) There is established a Behavioral Health and Human Services Scholarship Program 45
at UDC to provide financial assistance to individuals who seek to obtain an accredited master’s 46
degree from UDC and become licensed in a behavioral health or human services occupation to 47
work for a District government agency or for an LEA or health care provider organization 48
located in the District. 49
(b) Through UDC, the Program shall provide: 50
(1) Education to Program participants that may lead to: 51
(A) The successful completion of an accredited master's degree program at 52
UDC; 53
(B) Passage of licensure exams if required to become licensed in a 54
behavioral health and human services occupation; and 55
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(C) Hiring by District LEAs, District government agencies, or health care 56
provider organizations located in the District in a behavioral health and human services 57
occupation; and 58
(2) Financial assistance to Program participants for payment of: 59
(A) Tuition at UDC, to the extent charged; 60
(B) Academic costs, including the cost of books and supplies; 61
(C) Stipends to be used toward living expenses and transportation; and 62
(D) Fees associated with obtaining a license for a behavioral health and 63
human services occupation in the District. 64
(c) UDC shall select individuals to participate in the Program, consistent with the 65
eligibility criteria established pursuant to section 4. 66
(d) Program marketing and public education shall be provided by UDC to attract District 67
residents and employees to the Program and for the duration of the Program. 68
(e) Among other authorized uses, UDC may use local funds appropriated to the Program 69
to provide: 70
(1) Salaries and fringe benefits for faculty and staff directly engaged in the 71
provision of courses necessary to obtain an accredited master's degree; 72
(2) Instructional materials used in courses necessary to obtain an accredited 73
master's degree; 74
(3) For marketing and recruitment activities to attract individuals to the Program; 75
and 76
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(4) The financial assistance for Program participants described in subsection (b) 77
of this section. 78
Sec. 4. Program participant eligibility. 79
(a) To be eligible for financial assistance provided through the Program, an individual 80
shall: 81
(1) Meet the relevant requirements for the accredited master’s degree program at 82
UDC in which the individual enrolls; 83
(2) Be: 84
(A) A resident of the District; 85
(B) A graduate of a District LEA; or 86
(C) Employed by a District government agency or health care provider 87
organization; 88
(3) Be enrolled in a UDC accredited master's degree program necessary to obtain 89
licensure in a behavioral health and human services occupation in the District; 90
(4) Have a stated interest in pursuing a license in a behavioral health and human 91
services occupation and to work in a behavioral health or human services occupation in the 92
District; and 93
(5) Meet other criteria specified by UDC. 94
(b) To maintain eligibility for financial assistance through the Program, an individual 95
shall: 96
(1) Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by UDC; 97
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(2) Be consecutively enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in an accredited 98
master’s degree program at UDC; and 99
(3) Meet any other requirement determined by UDC to be necessary or 100
appropriate for Program participation. 101
(c) In exchange for accepting Program financial assistance, a Program participant shall 102
commit to working for a District government agency or an LEA or health care provider 103
organization located in the District for a minimum of 2 years after receiving an accredited 104
master's degree and earning the appropriate licensure or certification needed to practice in a 105
behavioral health and human services occupation in the District. 106
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement. 107
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 108
impact statement required by 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 109
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 110
Sec. 6. Effective date. 111
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 112
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as 113
provided in sections 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 114
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 115
Columbia Register. 116