Louisiana Senate Bill SCR100

Louisiana 2010 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/2/10
• Passed: 6/2/10
• Engrossed: 6/2/10
• Refer: 6/3/10
• Report Pass: 6/8/10

Caption

Requests the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to work in collaboration through the Mental Health Professional Working Group to meet certain goals and to report to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare by February 1, 2011.

Impact

By establishing the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group, SCR100 seeks to clarify the scope of practice for licensed professional counselors to enhance their competency in diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and addictive disorders. The group is tasked with identifying common practices between psychologists and counselors to improve service delivery in Louisiana. The resolution also mandates that the group reports to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare, thus ensuring legislative oversight and accountability regarding progress in addressing behavioral health issues.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 100 urges the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to collaborate through the Behavioral Health Professional Working Group. This resolution emphasizes the importance of integrating the efforts of different behavioral health professions in Louisiana to address the increasing mental health needs of the population. It encourages the development of innovative collaborative practices that align with the educational and professional qualifications of the counselors and psychologists involved.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SCR100 supports a collaborative approach to mental health care, suggesting a more unified effort among professionals in sectors tackling behavioral health. Such an approach is seen as necessary to meet the growing mental health demands effectively. However, like many resolutions in the health sector, it may face scrutiny about how effectively these collaborative practices can be implemented and whether they will indeed result in improved outcomes for patients.

Contention

While the resolution does not directly invoke significant controversy, the creation of the working group to unify the practices of licensed professional counselors and psychologists could spark discussions about jurisdiction and the protection of professional identities. There may be concerns from some licensed professionals regarding potential overlaps in their scopes of practice and how collaborative methods could sometimes blur these lines. Thus, while the emphasis is on cooperation, it is essential to recognize the delicate balance between maintaining distinct professional roles and fostering teamwork.