| 1 | 1 | | 85R7314 SMT-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Lucio S.B. No. 1860 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to agreements between this state and other jurisdictions |
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| 8 | 8 | | concerning reciprocal licensure of mental health professionals. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. In this Act: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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| 12 | 12 | | Services. |
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| 13 | 13 | | (2) "Reciprocity agreement" means an agreement |
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| 14 | 14 | | between a licensing entity of this state and a licensing entity of |
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| 15 | 15 | | another jurisdiction under which each accepts the credentials of a |
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| 16 | 16 | | professional licensed in the other jurisdiction or in this state. |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 2. (a) The department shall conduct a study of |
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| 18 | 18 | | reciprocity agreements between this state and other licensing |
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| 19 | 19 | | jurisdictions that concern licensed mental health professionals. |
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| 20 | 20 | | The study must assess the effectiveness of each agreement in making |
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| 21 | 21 | | mental health providers and services available in this state. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (b) The department shall collaborate with the following |
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| 23 | 23 | | entities in conducting the study: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (1) Texas Medical Board; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (3) Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and |
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| 27 | 27 | | Family Therapists; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (4) Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional |
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| 29 | 29 | | Counselors; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | (5) Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (c) The department may collaborate with another licensing |
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| 32 | 32 | | entity the department determines appropriate in conducting the |
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| 33 | 33 | | study. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (d) The department shall prepare a report summarizing the |
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| 35 | 35 | | conclusions of the study and including recommendations to improve |
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| 36 | 36 | | the effectiveness of reciprocity agreements in increasing the |
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| 37 | 37 | | availability of mental health providers and services in this state, |
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| 38 | 38 | | including recommendations for: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (1) action by the department; |
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| 40 | 40 | | (2) action by a licensing entity of this state; and |
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| 41 | 41 | | (3) legislative reform. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the completion of |
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| 43 | 43 | | the report, the department and each applicable licensing entity |
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| 44 | 44 | | shall implement the pertinent recommendations. |
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| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 4. The department shall submit to the legislature |
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| 46 | 46 | | the report described in Section 2(d) of this Act not later than |
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| 47 | 47 | | November 1, 2018. |
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| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 5. This Act expires December 31, 2018. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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