SENATE DOCKET, NO. 59        FILED ON: 1/12/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 77

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed marriage and family therapists.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 22 of chapter 32A of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

     For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed marriage and family therapist within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 2.  Section 47B of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 2 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

     For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed marriage and family therapist within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 3.  Section 8A of chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 4 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

     For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed marriage and family therapist within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 4.  Section 4A of 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 6 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

     For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed marriage and family therapist within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 5.  Section 4M of 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 10 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

     For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed marriage and family therapist within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.