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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 100
BY SENATOR MOUNT
MENTAL HEALTH. Requests the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
and the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to work in
collaboration through the Mental Health Professional Working Group to meet certain goals
and to report to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare by February 1,
2011.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the2
Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to work in3
collaboration through the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group to meet4
certain goals and to report to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare5
by February 1, 2011.6
WHEREAS, it is of the utmost importance that the state of Louisiana foster and7
maintain strong behavioral health professions which are able to work collaboratively in order8
to successfully address the mounting behavioral health needs of the state; and9
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate a strong and vibrant profession, it is imperative that10
there is a clear and easily understandable scope of practice which governs the practice of the11
profession; and12
WHEREAS, with the behavioral health challenges in the state only increasing, the13
behavioral health professions must move away from their traditional structures and develop14
integrated and collaborative practice methods which seek to maximize, while still15
maintaining the highest degree of competency and the methods by which behavioral health16
services are provided to the citizens of this state; and17
WHEREAS, it is important that the solutions to these challenges be developed18 SCR NO. 100
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through a thoughtful and deliberative process which ensures that each profession is fully1
represented and takes an active role and that professional identity is protected; and2
WHEREAS, it is essential that each profession is willing and able to work outside3
of the normal frameworks to allow novel and innovative approaches to these issues to be4
explored and offered.5
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby6
urge and request the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the Louisiana7
Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to work in collaboration through the8
Behavioral Health Professional Working Group to meet certain goals and to report to the9
Senate and House committees on health and welfare by February 1, 2011.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Behavioral Health Professional Working11
Group is hereby created and shall be composed of the following members who shall be12
appointed no later than July 15, 2010:13
(1) Two members appointed by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of14
Psychologists.15
(2) Two members appointed by Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board16
of Examiners.17
(3) Two members appointed by the Louisiana Counseling Association.18
(4) Two members appointed by the Louisiana Psychological Association.19
In addition, the following professional boards may appoint one representative to the working20
group to act in an advisory capacity only:21
(1) Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners.22
(2) Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the initial meeting shall be held no later than24
August 1, 2010, and the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group shall provide for25
the manner and frequency of the group's meetings and for all other administrative matters26
necessary in order to function as a working group.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following objectives and goals shall be met28
by the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group:29
(1) Develop language for legislation to clarify the licensed professional counselor30 SCR NO. 100
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scope of practice regarding diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and addictive1
disorders which allows professional counselors to practice in a manner which is consistent2
with educational requirements, applicable training, and related competencies.3
(2) Identify the common and distinct practice activities of the two professions and4
develop new collaborative practice methods which seek to fully utilize the abilities of both5
professions and allow for maximization of behavioral health services which can be provided6
in the state.7
(3) Discuss and outline additional recommendations which may expand public access8
to presently absent behavioral health services while avoiding service duplication and9
redundancy.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Behavioral Health Professional Working11
Group shall submit a written report of their conclusions and findings to the Senate and12
House committees on health and welfare and shall terminate no later than February 1, 2011.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the14
Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Louisiana Licensed Professional15
Counselors Board of Examiners, the Louisiana Counseling Association, Louisiana16
Psychological Association, the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners and the17
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.18
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Greg Waddell.
DIGEST
Mount SCR No.
Requests the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the Louisiana
Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to work in collaboration through the
Behavioral Health Professional Working Group to meet certain goals and to report to the
Senate and House committees on health and welfare by February 1, 2011.