SLS 14RS-584 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 121
BY SENATOR MORRELL
MENTAL HEALTH. Clarifies certain definitions within the Louisiana Mental Health
Counselor Licensing Act. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1103(6) and (9), relative to marriage and family therapy; to2
provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related3
matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 37:1103(6) and (9) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as6
follows:7
ยง1103. Definitions8
* * *9
(6) "Marriage and family therapy" means the professional application of10
psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the prevention,11
diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of individuals, mental, emotional, and12
behavioral disorders in an individual and relational disorders in couples, and13
families.14
* * *15
(9) "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the rendering of16
professional marriage and family therapy and psychotherapy services, limited to17 SB NO. 121
SLS 14RS-584 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional,1
behavioral, relational, and addiction disorders to individuals, couples, and2
families, singly or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the general3
public or through either public or private organizations for a fee, monetary or4
otherwise in accordance with professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:11165
and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or6
procedures of the marriage and family therapy profession.7
* * *8
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not9
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature10
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If11
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become12
effective on the day following such approval.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Morrell (SB 121)
Present law defines "marriage and family therapy" to mean the professional application of
psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the assessment and
treatment of individuals, couples, and families.
Proposed law amends present law and defines "marriage and family therapy" to mean the
professional application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques
in the prevention, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral
disorders in an individual and relational disorders in couples and families.
Present law defines "practice of marriage and family therapy" to mean the rendering of
professional marriage and family therapy services to individuals, couples, and families,
singly or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the general public or
through either public or private organizations for a fee, monetary or otherwise.
Proposed law amends present law and defines "practice of marriage and family therapy" to
mean the rendering of professional marriage and family therapy and psychotherapy services,
limited to prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral,
relational, and addiction disorders to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in groups,
whether such services are offered directly to the general public or through either public or
private organizations for a fee, monetary or otherwise in accordance with professional
training as provided pursuant to present law and code of ethics/behavior involving the
application of principles, methods, or procedures of the marriage and family therapy
profession. SB NO. 121
SLS 14RS-584 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 37:1103(6) and (9))