SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1868        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 704

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

_________________

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 relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1868        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 704

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1158 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors.

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, a licensed marriage and family therapist or a licensed rehabilitation counselor 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, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor 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, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor 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, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor 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, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.