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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 742
BY REPRESENTATIVE MILLS
MENTAL HEALTH: Provides for the La. Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1103(7) and (10)(c) and 1107(A)(8)(a), relative to licensed2
professional counselors; to provide for definitions; to provide for requirements for3
licensure of a licensed professional counselor; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 37:1103(7) and (10)(c) and 1107(A)(8)(a) are hereby amended and6
reenacted to read as follows: 7
§1103. Definitions8
* * *9
(7) "Mental health counseling services" means those acts and behaviors10
coming within the practice of mental health counseling as defined in this Chapter,11
including the diagnosis and treatment, which includes psychotherapy, of conditions12
or disorders requiring mental health counseling as defined in Subparagraph (10)(c)13
of this Section. facilitation of human development and wellness throughout the14
lifespan and the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment,15
including but not limited to psychotherapy, of mental, emotional, behavioral, social,16
and addiction disorders. In addition to "mental health counseling", the definition of17
"mental health counseling services" also includes "appraisal", "consulting", "referral18
activities", and "research activities" as defined in Paragraph (10) of this Section;19
however However, except as provided in this Section, nothing in this Chapter shall20 HLS 10RS-1294 ORIGINAL
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be construed to authorize any person licensed hereunder to administer or interpret1
tests in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:2352(5), except as provided by2
Title 46, Part LXIII, Chapter 17, Section 1702(E) of the Louisiana Administrative3
Code, or engage in the practice of psychology or to prescribe, either orally or in4
writing, distribute, dispense, or administer any medications.5
* * *6
(10) "Practice of mental health counseling" means rendering or offering to7
individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public by a licensed professional8
counselor, any service consistent with his professional training as prescribed by R.S.9
37:1107(A)(8), and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles,10
methods, or procedures of the mental health counseling profession which include but11
are not limited to:12
* * *13
(c) "Mental health counseling", which means assisting an individual or14
group, through psychotherapy and the counseling relationship, to develop an15
understanding of personal problems, to define goals, and to plan actions reflecting16
his or their interests, abilities, aptitudes, and needs as these are related to personal17
and social concerns, educational progress, and occupations and careers includes the18
facilitation of human development and wellness throughout the lifespan, and the19
prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment, including20
psychotherapy of mental, emotional, behavioral, social, and addiction disorders.21
* * *22
§1107. Requirements for licensed professional counselor; renewal of license23
A. The board shall issue a license to each applicant who files an application24
upon a form and in such manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by such fee25
as required by R.S. 37:1106, and who furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board26
that he:27
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(8)(a) Has received a graduate degree the substance of which is professional1
mental health counseling in content from a regionally accredited institution of higher2
education offering a masters and/or or doctoral program in counseling that is3
approved by the board and has accumulated at least forty-eight graduate semester4
hours as part of the graduate degree plan containing the eight required areas, the5
supervised mental health practicum and supervised internship in mental health6
counseling, as defined by rules adopted by the board prior to September 1, 2015, and7
at least sixty graduate hours after September 1, 2015. All applicants shall complete8
a course in each of the eight required areas specified in this Subsection and shall9
complete a supervised internship in mental health counseling as defined in the rules10
and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.11
An applicant may apply post-masters counseling courses toward licensure if the12
applicant's masters degree program required fewer than sixty hours to obtain the13
degree.14
* * *15
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Mills HB No. 742
Abstract: Provides for the La. Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act. Makes changes to
the definition of "mental health counseling services" and makes changes to the
requirements for licensure of licensed professional counselors.
Present law provides that "mental health counseling services" means the diagnosis and
treatment, including psychotherapy, of conditions or disorders requiring mental health
counseling.
Proposed law clarifies the definition by deeming the term to include the facilitation of
human development and wellness throughout the lifespan, the prevention, assessment,
diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment, including psychotherapy of mental, emotional,
behavioral, social, and addiction disorders.
Present law provides that the board shall issue a license to an applicant who has accumulated
48 graduate semester hours as part of the graduate degree plan containing the eight required
areas, the supervised mental health practicum, and the supervised internship in mental health
counseling. HLS 10RS-1294 ORIGINAL
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Proposed law changes present law by adding that applicants must accumulate 48 graduate
semester hours prior to Sept. 1, 2015, and at least 60 graduate hours after Sept. 1, 2015.
Proposed law further states that an applicant may apply post-masters counseling courses
toward licensure if the applicant's masters degree program required fewer than 60 hours to
obtain the degree.
(Amends R.S. 37:1103(7) and (10)(C) and 1107(A)(8)(a))