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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. Provides relative to marriage and family therapists. (8/1/14)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1103(6) and (9) and to enact R.S. 37:1116(E), relative to2
marriage and family therapy; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective3
date; and to provide for related 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 and R.S.6
37:1116(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows:7
§1103. 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 ENGROSSED
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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
§1116. Licensure application for marriage and family therapists; temporary license9
or registration10
* * *11
E. A licensed marriage and family therapist engaged in the diagnosis of12
individuals shall furnish satisfactory evidence of the following to the board:13
(1) The applicant has graduated from a program of graduate study14
which in addition to the standard training in the professional application of15
psychotherapeutic and family systems theories, will also require a minimum of16
six credit hours in diagnostic psychopathology, whereas students are taught to17
systematically collect and analyze data based on one or both of the two standard18
diagnostic systems employed, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth19
Revision or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth20
Edition, for the above purposes. However, licensed marriage and family21
therapists who have satisfied all other criteria for licensure as required by the22
board on August 1, 2014, shall be allowed to diagnose individuals upon23
completion of the continuing education requirements of this Section.24
(2) As diagnosis is constantly being enhanced by emerging empirical25
research, the licensed marriage and family therapist shall receive six hours of26
credit in continuing education that focuses on diagnosis.27
(3) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize any person28
licensed under the provisions of this Chapter to assess, diagnose, or provide29 SB NO. 121
SLS 14RS-584 ENGROSSED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness, as defined1
by this Section, when medication may be indicated, except when a licensed2
marriage and family therapist, in accordance with best practices, consults and3
collaborates with a practitioner who holds a license or permit with the4
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice registered5
nurse licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing who is certified as a6
psychiatric nurse practitioner.7
The original instrument was prepared by Christopher D. Adams. The
following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative
instrument, was prepared by Michelle Ducharme.
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.
Present law provides for the licensure of marriage and family therapist.
Proposed law provides that a licensed marriage and family therapist engaged in the diagnosis
of individuals shall furnish satisfactory evidence of the following to the board:
(1)The applicant has graduated from a program of graduate study which in addition to
the standard training in the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family
systems theories, will also require a minimum of six credit hours in diagnostic
psychopathology, whereas students are taught to systematically collect and analyze
data based on one or both of the two standard diagnostic systems employed,
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, for the above purposes. SB NO. 121
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
However, licensed marriage and family therapists who have satisfied all other
criteria for licensure as required by the board on August 1, 2014, shall be allowed to
diagnose individuals upon completion of the continuing education requirements of
proposed law.
(2) As diagnosis is constantly being enhanced by emerging empirical research, the
licensed marriage and family therapist shall receive six hours of credit in continuing
education that focuses on diagnosis.
(3)Nothing shall be construed to authorize any person licensed under the provisions of
present law to assess, diagnose, or provide treatment to any individual suffering from
a serious mental illness, as defined in present law, when medication may be
indicated, except when a licensed marriage and family therapist, in accordance with
best practices, consults and collaborates with a practitioner who holds a license or
permit with the La. State Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice
registered nurse licensed by the La. State Board of Nursing who is certified as a
psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 37:1103(6) and (9); enacts R.S. 37:1116(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs to the original bill
1. Adds requirements that marriage and family therapist must comply with in
order to engage in the diagnosis of individuals.
2. Provides for continuing education for marriage and family therapists.
3. Provides for an exception to the prohibition of a marriage and family
therapist assessing, diagnosing, or providing treatment to any individual
suffering from a serious mental illness.