SLS 25RS-385 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 153
BY SENATOR SELDERS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. Provides relative to behavioral health rehabilitation services in
the Louisiana medical assistance program. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1107(A)(5) and (F), 1116(B)(3) and (C), 2707(A)(3) and
3 2724(B) and R.S. 40:2162(D)(2)(c) and to enact R.S. 40:2162(D)(2)(d), relative to
4 behavioral health rehabilitation services in the Louisiana medical assistance
5 program; to provide for limited licenses for certain individuals to provide CPST
6 services; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 37:1107(A)(5) and (F), 1116(B)(3) and (C), 2707(A)(3) and 2724(B)
9 are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §1107. Requirements for licensed professional counselor; provisional license;
11 temporary license or temporary provisional license; renewal of
12 license or temporary provisional license
13 A. The board shall issue a license to each applicant who files an application
14 upon a form and in such manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by such fee
15 as required by R.S. 37:1106, and who furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board
16 that the applicant:
17 * * *
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1 (5) Has declared special competencies and demonstrated professional
2 competence therein by passing a written and, at the discretion of the board, an oral
3 examination, as the board shall prescribe, except as provided in Paragraph (F)(2)
4 of this Section.
5 * * *
6 F.(1) The board may issue a provisional license as a provisional licensed
7 professional counselor to an applicant who meets qualifications established by the
8 board. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act
9 establishing such qualifications and requirements for the issuance of a provisional
10 license as necessary for the adequate protection of the health and welfare of the
11 residents of this state. Such qualifications shall include, at a minimum, that the
12 applicant shall be at least twenty-one years old, of good moral character, in
13 compliance with all applicable provisions of law or board regulations, and possess
14 a graduate degree the substance of which is mental health counseling.
15 (2) At the end of the provisional license period prescribed by the board,
16 any provisionally licensed counselor who has provided CPST services pursuant
17 to R.S. 40:2162 and who meets all the qualifications for licensure except for the
18 provisions of Paragraph (A)(5) of this Section shall be issued a limited scope
19 license that authorizes the individual to only provide CPST services in
20 accordance with R.S. 40:2162.
21 * * *
22 §1116. Licensure application for marriage and family therapists; provisional license;
23 temporary license or temporary provisional license
24 * * *
25 B. An applicant who meets the requirements of Subsection A of this Section
26 shall be recommended by the advisory committee to the board for issuance of a
27 license by the board upon providing satisfactory evidence to the advisory committee
28 that such person meets the following requirements:
29 * * *
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1 (3) Passage of an examination approved by the board, except as provided
2 in Paragraph (C)(2) of this Section.
3 C.(1) The board may issue a provisional license as a provisional licensed
4 marriage and family therapist to an applicant who meets qualifications established
5 by the board. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure
6 Act establishing such qualifications and requirements as necessary for the adequate
7 protection of the health and welfare of the residents of this state. Such qualifications
8 shall include, at a minimum, that the applicant shall be at least twenty-one years old,
9 of good moral character, in compliance with applicable provisions of law or board
10 regulations, and possess a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy, or a
11 related clinical mental health field from a regionally accredited institution of higher
12 education, or a certificate from a postgraduate training institute in marriage and
13 family therapy.
14 (2) At the end of the provisional license period prescribed by the board,
15 any provisionally licensed marriage and family therapist who has provided
16 CPST services pursuant to R.S. 40:2162 and who meets all the qualifications for
17 licensure except for the provisions of Paragraph (B)(3) of this Section shall be
18 issued a limited scope license that authorizes the individual to only provide
19 CPST services in accordance with R.S. 40:2162.
20 * * *
21 §2707. Qualifications; licensed master's social worker
22 A. No individual shall be eligible for licensure by the board as a licensed
23 master's social worker unless the individual:
24 * * *
25 (3) Has passed an examination approved by the board, except as provided
26 in R.S. 37:2724(B)(2).
27 * * *
28 §2724. Qualification; certified social worker
29 * * *
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1 B.(1) The board may issue a social worker certificate to an individual who
2 has completed all requirements for certification as a certified social worker. The
3 individual may hold the certificate for no more than three years from the issuance of
4 the original certificate.
5 (2) At the end of the three-year certification period, any certified social
6 worker who has provided CPST services pursuant to R.S. 40:2162 and who
7 meets all the qualifications for licensure as a licensed master's social worker
8 except for the provisions of R.S. 37:2707(A)(3) shall be issued a limited scope
9 license that authorizes the individual to only provide CPST services in
10 accordance with R.S. 40:2162.
11 * * *
12 Section 2. R.S. 40:2162(D)(2)(c) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
13 40:2162(D)(2)(d) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
14 §2162. Specialized behavioral health rehabilitation services in the Louisiana medical
15 assistance program
16 * * *
17 D. In order to be eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement, all behavioral
18 health services providers shall ensure that any individual rendering PSR or CPST
19 services for the licensed and accredited provider agency meets all of the following
20 requirements:
21 * * *
22 (2)
23 * * *
24 (c) Any individual rendering the assessment and treatment planning
25 components of CPST services for a licensed and accredited provider agency shall be
26 a fully licensed mental health professional.
27 (d) Any individual rendering any of the other components of CPST services
28 for a licensed and accredited provider agency shall be a fully licensed mental health
29 professional, a provisionally licensed professional counselor, a provisionally licensed
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1 marriage and family therapist, a licensed master social worker, a certified social
2 worker, or a psychology intern from an American Psychological Association
3 approved internship program, or an individual issued a limited scope license
4 pursuant to R.S. 37:1107(F)(2), 1116(C)(2), or 2724(B)(2).
5 * * *
6 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
7 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
8 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
9 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
10 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof
or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
DIGEST
SB 153 Original 2025 Regular Session Selders
Present law defines "Community psychiatric support and treatment services" (CPST
services) as CMS-approved Medicaid mental health rehabilitation services designed to
reduce disability from mental illness, restore functional skills of daily living, build natural
supports, and achieve identified person-centered goals or objectives through counseling,
clinical psycho-education, and ongoing monitoring needs as set forth in an individualized
treatment plan.
Present law provides that, in order to be eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement, all
behavioral health services providers shall ensure that any individual rendering CPST
services for the provider agency meets certain enumerated requirements.
Present law authorizes the La. Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to
issue a provisionally licensed professional counselor license to an individual who meets
qualifications established by the board.
Proposed law provides that at the end of the provisional license period prescribed by the
board, any provisionally licensed counselor who has provided CPST services in accordance
with present law and who meets all the qualifications for licensure, except for passing a
written or oral examination required by the board, shall be issued a limited scope license that
authorizes the individual to only provide CPST services.
Present law authorizes the La. Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to
issue a provisional marriage and family therapist license to an individual who meets
qualifications established by the board.
Proposed law provides that at the end of the provisional license period prescribed by the
board, any provisionally licensed marriage and family therapist who has provided CPST
services in accordance with present law and who meets all the qualifications for licensure,
except for passing a board-approved examination, shall be issued a limited scope license that
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authorizes the individual to only provide CPST services.
Present law authorizes the La. State Board of Social Work Examiners to issue a certified
social worker certification for up to three years to an individual who is pursuing a master's
social work license and meets qualifications established by the board.
Proposed law provides that at the end of the three-year period, any certified social worker
who has provided CPST services in accordance with present law and who meets all the
qualifications for licensure, except for passing a board-approved examination, shall be issued
a limited scope license that authorizes the individual to only provide CPST services.
Present law requires any individual rendering any components of CPST services, except for
assessment and treatment planning components, to be a fully licensed mental health
professional, a provisionally licensed professional counselor, a provisionally licensed
marriage and family therapist, a licensed master social worker, a certified social worker, or
a psychology intern from an American Psychological Association approved internship
program.
Proposed law adds that individuals who have been issued a limited scope professional
counselor, marriage and family therapist, or social worker license may also provide the
CPST services in the same manner as a provisionally licensed professional counselor, a
provisionally licensed marriage and family therapist, or a certified social worker.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 37:1107(A)(5) and (F), 1116(B)(3) and (C), 2707(A)(3) and 2724(B) and R.S.
40:2162(D)(2)(c); adds R.S. 40:2162(D)(2)(d))
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