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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 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 121
BY SENATOR MORRELL
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1103(6) and (9) and to enact R.S. 37:1116(E) and (F), relative2
to 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) and (F) are 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
prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional,18
behavioral, relational, and addiction disorders to individuals, couples, and19
families, singly or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the general20
public or through either public or private organizations for a fee, monetary or21
otherwise in accordance with professional training as prescribed by R.S. 37:111622
and code of ethics/behavior involving the application of principles, methods, or23
procedures of the marriage and family therapy profession.24
* * *25
§1116. Licensure application for marriage and family therapists; temporary license26
ACT No. 736 SB NO. 121 ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
or registration1
* * *2
E. Beginning January 1, 2018, a licensed marriage and family therapist3
who engages in the diagnosis of individuals shall furnish satisfactory evidence4
to the board that he has completed the standard training in the professional5
application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and a minimum6
of six credit hours in diagnostic psychopathology, where students are taught to7
systematically collect and analyze data based on one or both of the two standard8
diagnostic systems employed, International Classification of Diseases, current9
revision, or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, current10
edition. However, licensed marriage and family therapists who have satisfied11
all other criteria for licensure as required by the board shall be allowed to12
diagnose individuals upon demonstration of competency through continuing13
education or other measures as defined by the board.14
F. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize any person15
licensed under the provisions of this Chapter to assess, diagnose, or provide16
treatment to any individual suffering from a serious mental illness, as defined17
by R.S. 37:1103, when medication may be indicated, except when a licensed18
marriage and family therapist, in accordance with best practices, consults and19
collaborates with a practitioner who holds a license or permit with the20
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners or an advanced practice registered21
nurse licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing who is certified as a22
psychiatric nurse practitioner.23
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: