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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 100
BY SENATOR MOUNT AND REPRESENTATI VE MILLS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request 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.
WHEREAS, it is of the utmost importance that the state of Louisiana foster and
maintain strong behavioral health professions which are able to work collaboratively in order
to successfully address the mounting behavioral health needs of the state; and
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate a strong and vibrant profession, it is imperative that
there is a clear and easily understandable scope of practice which governs the practice of the
profession; and
WHEREAS, with the behavioral health challenges in the state only increasing, the
behavioral health professions must move away from their traditional structures and develop
integrated and collaborative practice methods which seek to maximize, while still
maintaining the highest degree of competency and the methods by which behavioral health
services are provided to the citizens of this state; and
WHEREAS, it is important that the solutions to these challenges be developed
through a thoughtful and deliberative process which ensures that each profession is fully
represented and takes an active role and that professional identity is protected; and
WHEREAS, it is essential that each profession is willing and able to work outside
of the normal frameworks to allow novel and innovative approaches to these issues to be
explored and offered.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the Louisiana SCR NO. 100 ENROLLED
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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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Behavioral Health Professional Working
Group is hereby created and shall be composed of the following members who shall be
appointed no later than July 15, 2010:
(1) Two members appointed by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of
Psychologists.
(2) Two members appointed by Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board
of Examiners.
(3) Two members appointed by the Louisiana Counseling Association.
(4) Two members appointed by the Louisiana Psychological Association.
In addition, the following professional boards may appoint one representative to the working
group to act in an advisory capacity only:
(1) Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners.
(2) Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the initial meeting shall be held no later than
August 1, 2010, and the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group shall provide for
the manner and frequency of the group's meetings and for all other administrative matters
necessary in order to function as a working group.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following objectives and goals shall be met
by the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group:
(1) Develop language for legislation to clarify the licensed professional counselor
scope of practice regarding diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and addictive
disorders which allows professional counselors to practice in a manner which is consistent
with educational requirements, applicable training, and related competencies.
(2) Identify the common and distinct practice activities of the two professions and
develop new collaborative practice methods which seek to fully utilize the abilities of both
professions and allow for maximization of behavioral health services which can be provided
in the state. SCR NO. 100 ENROLLED
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(3) Discuss and outline additional recommendations which may expand public
access to presently absent behavioral health services while avoiding service duplication and
redundancy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Behavioral Health Professional Working
Group shall submit a written report of their conclusions and findings to the Senate and
House committees on health and welfare and shall terminate no later than February 1, 2011.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Louisiana Licensed Professional
Counselors Board of Examiners, the Louisiana Counseling Association, Louisiana
Psychological Association, the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners and the
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES