RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 328 (HB 822) 2020 Regular Session Robby Carter
Existing law provides for the licensing, certification, registration, and other credentialing of
the following professionals who engage in the practice of counseling of persons with
addictive disorders:
(1)Licensed addiction counselors.
(2)Certified addiction counselors.
(3)Registered addiction counselors.
(4)Counselors-in-training.
(5)Addiction treatment assistants.
(6)Certified clinical supervisors.
(7)Certified compulsive gambling counselors.
(8)Licensed prevention professionals.
(9)Certified prevention professionals.
(10)Registered prevention professionals.
(11)Certified prevention supervisors.
New law repeals prior law which created and provided for the profession of prevention
services assistant.
Prior law established that the authority for issuing and recognizing credentials for
professionals engaged in providing counseling and prevention services for those who suffer
from addictive disorders was the office of behavioral health of the La. Department of Health
(referred to hereafter as the "department"). New law provides that this authority shall be the
governing board of the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority created and provided for
in existing law (referred to hereafter as the "board").
Prior law provided for enumerated powers and duties of the department with respect to
credentialing of professionals engaged in providing counseling and prevention services for
those who suffer from addictive disorders. New law assigns these powers and duties to the
board.
New law repeals prior law which required that licensed addiction counselor candidates,
certified addiction counselor candidates, and registered addiction counselor candidates
demonstrate competence by passing an oral examination. Existing law requires that such
candidates demonstrate competence by passing a written examination.
New law establishes the following limitations and requirements for certified addiction
counselors:
(1)The certified addiction counselor shall work only under the supervision of a licensed
addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional.
(2)The certified addiction counselor shall register his supervisory licensed addiction
counselor or qualified mental health professional with the board.
(3)Supervisory contact between the certified addiction counselor and the supervisory
licensed addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional shall be regular
and documented, and shall be provided to the board upon request. New law establishes the following limitations and requirements for registered addiction
counselors:
(1)The registered addiction counselor shall work only under the supervision of a
licensed addiction counselor or other qualified mental health professional.
(2)The registered addiction counselor shall register his supervisory licensed addiction
counselor or other qualified mental health professional with the Addictive Disorder
Regulatory Authority.
(3)Supervisory contact between the registered addiction counselor and the supervisory
licensed addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional must be regular
and documented, and shall be provided to the board.
New law authorizes the board, in its discretion, to maintain the confidentiality of an
individual licensee, registrant, or certificate holder who violates a provision of existing law
or new law whenever it determines that the public interest will be best served by alternatives
to the disciplinary process.
New law repeals the following provisions of prior law:
(1)Provisions relating to prevention services assistants.
(2)Date-specific provisions that have become obsolete.
Effective Aug. 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 36:259(A)(20) and R.S. 37:3386.1-3387.4, 3387.5(B)-(D), (E)(intro. para.)
and (1)-(3), (F), and (G)(2)-(4), 3387.6(B)-(D), (E)(intro. para.), (2), (3), (5), and (6), (F),
(G)(2)-(4), and (I), 3387.10(B), (C), (D)(intro. para.), (1)-(4), (5)(b)-(d), and (6)-(8), and (E),
3387.11(B), (C), (D)(intro. para.), (1)-(4), (5)(b)-(d), and (6)-(8), and (E), 3387.12(B), (C),
(D)(intro. para.), (1)-(4), (5)(b)-(d), and (6)-(8), and (E), 3387.14(B)-(E), 3388(B) and (C),
3388.1(B) and (C), 3388.2(B)-(D), 3388.3(A), 3388.4(A)(intro. para.) and (8)-(11) and (B),
3389, 3390, 3390.1(C) and (D), 3390.2, 3390.3(A)(intro. para.), (3), (5), (7), and (12) and
(B)-(D), 3390.4(intro. para.) and (5), and 3390.6(A) and (B)(intro. para.) and (1)-(7); Adds
R.S. 37:3388.4(A)(13)-(15) and 3390.3(E); Repeals R.S. 37:3387.10(F) and (G), 3387.13,
and 3388.3(B))