Bill H.921

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1559 FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 921

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Heroux

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act improving access to rehabilitation counseling.

_______________

PETITION OF:

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
Paul R. Heroux	2nd Bristol	1/17/2013
William M. Straus	10th Bristol
Anne M. Gobi	5th Worcester
Thomas M. McGee	Third Essex
Danielle W. Gregoire	4th Middlesex
Tom Sannicandro	7th Middlesex
Carlo Basile	1st Suffolk	2/1/2013
John J. Binienda	17th Worcester	1/31/2013
Antonio F. D. Cabral	13th Bristol	2/1/2013
Marcos A. Devers	16th Essex	2/1/2013
Michael O. Moore	Second Worcester	2/1/2013
David M. Rogers	24th Middlesex	1/31/2013

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1559 FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 921

By Mr. Heroux of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 921) of Paul R. Heroux and others for legislation to include licensed rehabilitation counselors in the definition of licensed mental health professionals. Financial Services.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3566 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

An Act improving access to rehabilitation counseling.

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, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the final paragraph 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 rehabilitation counselor.

SECTION 2. Section 47B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph in subsection (i) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

SECTION 3. Section 8A of Chapter 176A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph in subsection (i) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

SECTION 4. Section 4A of Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph in subsection (i) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

SECTION 5. Section 4M of Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph in subsection (i) 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 rehabilitation counselor.