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A JOINT RESOLUTION requiring mental health professional licensure boards to 1
either enter into an interstate compact or to ease or establish reciprocity procedures so as 2
to increase the mental health workforce in Kentucky and declaring an emergency. 3
WHEREAS, approximately 746,000 adults in Kentucky have a mental health 4
condition and about 113,069 individuals have a severe mental illness; and 5
WHEREAS, there is a mental health workforce shortage in Kentucky; and 6
WHEREAS, mental health providers are more likely to practice in urban centers 7
and this causes chronic shortages of mental health professionals in rural areas of 8
Kentucky; and 9
WHEREAS, there are only 350 actively practicing psychiatrists in Kentucky, about 10
eight per 100,000 residents, and to adequately serve individuals with mental health issues, 11
there should be at least 50 actively practicing psychiatrists per 100,000 residents; and 12
WHEREAS, due to a chronic shortage of psychiatrists, primary care providers are 13
providing up to 74 percent of all psychiatric care in the United States and primary care 14
providers may not have the training or experience to accurately diagnose or treat 15
individuals with severe mental illness or other mental health conditions; and 16
WHEREAS, Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Certified 17
Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) provide comprehensive mental health 18
and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals and to provide these 19
services, the CMHCs and CCBHCs must have enough qualified mental health providers 20
to meet the needs of communities; 21
NOW, THEREFORE, 22
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 23
Section 1. The General Assembly hereby requires the following boards to either 24
enter into an interstate compact with other states or to ease or establish reciprocity 25
procedures to increase the mental health workforce in Kentucky: 26
(1) Kentucky Board of Social Work; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 1063
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(2) Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists; 1
(3) Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors; 2
(4) Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure; 3
(5) Kentucky Board of Pharmacy; 4
(6) Kentucky Board of Nursing; 5
(7) Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology; 6
(8) Kentucky Board of Licensure for Pastoral Counselors; 7
(9) Kentucky Board of Licensure for Professional Art Therapists; and 8
(10) Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors. 9
Section 2. Each board shall report to the General Assembly by June 1, 2022, 10
and by June 1, 2023, of any actions taken and any necessary legislative action that may be 11
needed to accomplish the goal of increasing the mental health workforce. 12
Section 3. Whereas, the General Assembly desires to increase the mental health 13
workforce in Kentucky, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Resolution takes effect 14
upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming law. 15