Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 209 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Fawson, J.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/23/2015

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• requires an individual to complete a course in suicide prevention in order to obtain or renew a license in a behavioral health profession.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Justin L. Fawson
Senate Sponsor: 
Brian E. Shiozawa
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to suicide prevention training for behavioral health
professionals.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ requires an individual to complete a course in suicide prevention in order to obtain
or renew a license in a behavioral health profession.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
58-40-302
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 189
58-40-304
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 82
58-60-105
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1994, Chapter 32
58-60-205
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 16 and 262
58-60-305
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 16
58-60-405
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 16
58-60-506
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 189
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
58-40-302
 is amended to read:
58-40-302.
Qualifications for licensure.
(1) An applicant for licensure under this chapter shall:
(a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
; and
(c) be of good moral character.
(2) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1), an applicant for licensure as a
master therapeutic recreation specialist under this chapter shall as defined by division rule:
(a) complete an approved graduate degree;
(b) complete 4,000 qualifying hours of paid experience as:
(i) a licensed therapeutic recreation specialist if completed in the state; or
(ii) a certified therapeutic recreation specialist certified by the National Council for
Therapeutic Recreation Certification if completed outside of the state; and
(c) pass an approved examination.
(3) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1), an applicant for licensure as a
therapeutic recreation specialist under this chapter shall, as defined by division rule:
(a) complete an approved:
(i) bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy;
(ii) bachelor's degree with an approved emphasis, option, or concentration in
therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy; or
(iii) graduate degree;
(b) complete an approved practicum; and
(c) pass an approved examination.
(4) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1), an applicant for licensure as a
therapeutic recreation technician under this chapter shall, as defined by division rule:
(a) have a high school diploma or GED equivalent;
(b) complete an approved:
(i) educational course in therapeutic recreation taught by a licensed master therapeutic
recreation specialist; or
(ii) six semester hours or nine quarter hours in therapeutic recreation or recreational
therapy from an accredited college or university;
(c) complete an approved practicum under the supervision of:
(i) a licensed master therapeutic recreation specialist; or
(ii) an on-site, full-time, employed therapeutic recreation specialist; [
and
]
(d) pass an approved examination[
.
]
; and
(e) complete a minimum of two hours of training in suicide prevention via a course that
the division designates as approved.
Section 2. Section 
58-40-304
 is amended to read:
58-40-304.
Continuing education.
(1)
 In collaboration with the board, the division shall make rules to provide that as a
condition precedent for license renewal, a licensee shall complete continuing education
requirements during each license period.
(2) In addition to a continuing education requirement provided by the division under
Subsection (1), the division shall require a licensee, as a condition of renewal of the licensee's
license, to complete a minimum of two hours of training in suicide prevention via a course that
the division designates as approved.
Section 3. Section 
58-60-105
 is amended to read:
58-60-105.
Continuing education.
(1) By rule made under Section 
58-1-203
, the division may establish a continuing
education requirement as a condition for renewal of any license classification under this
chapter upon finding continuing education for that profession is necessary to reasonably protect
the public health, safety, or welfare.
(2) If a renewal cycle is extended or shortened under Section 
58-60-104
, the continuing
education hours required for license renewal under this section shall be increased or decreased
proportionally.
(3) The division shall, in addition to a continuing education requirement the division
establishes under Subsection (1), require an individual licensed under this chapter, as a
condition of renewing the individual's license, to complete a minimum of two hours of training
in suicide prevention via a course that the division designates as approved.
Section 4. Section 
58-60-205
 is amended to read:
58-60-205.
Qualifications for licensure or certification as a clinical social worker,
certified social worker, and social service worker.
(1) An applicant for licensure as a clinical social worker shall:
(a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
;
(c) be of good moral character;
(d) produce certified transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education
recognized by the division in collaboration with the board verifying satisfactory completion of
an education and earned degree as follows:
(i) an earned master's degree in social work resulting from completion of an education
program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; or
(ii) an earned doctoral degree in social work that results from successful completion of
a clinical concentration and practicum approved by the division and defined by rule under
Section 
58-1-203
;
(e) have completed a minimum of 4,000 hours of clinical social work training as
defined by division rule under Section 
58-1-203
:
(i)
 in not less than two years [
and
]
;
(ii)
 under the supervision of a clinical social worker supervisor approved by the
division in collaboration with the board; 
and
(iii) including a minimum of two hours of training in suicide prevention via a course
that the division designates as approved;
(f) document successful completion of not less than 1,000 hours of supervised training
in mental health therapy obtained after completion of the education requirement in Subsection
(1)(d), which training may be included as part of the 4,000 hours of training in Subsection
(1)(e), and of which documented evidence demonstrates not less than 100 of the hours were
obtained under the direct supervision of a clinical social worker, as defined by rule;
(g) have completed a case work, group work, or family treatment course sequence with
a clinical practicum in content as defined by rule under Section 
58-1-203
; and
(h) pass the examination requirement established by rule under Section 
58-1-203
.
(2) An applicant for licensure as a certified social worker shall:
(a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
;
(c) be of good moral character;
(d) produce certified transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education
recognized by the division in collaboration with the Social Worker Licensing Board verifying
satisfactory completion of an education and an earned degree as follows:
(i) a social work education program accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education and an earned master's degree resulting from completion of that program; or
(ii) an education program that contains approved clinical social work concentration and
practicum in content as defined by rule under Section 
58-1-203
 and an earned doctorate
resulting from completion of that program; and
(e) pass the examination requirement established by rule under Section 
58-1-203
.
(3) (a) An applicant for certification as a certified social worker intern shall meet the
requirements of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d).
(b) Certification under Subsection (3)(a) is limited to the time necessary to pass the
examination required under Subsection (2)(e) or six months, whichever occurs first.
(c) A certified social worker intern may provide mental health therapy under the
general supervision of a clinical social worker.
(4) An applicant for licensure as a social service worker shall:
(a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
;
(c) be of good moral character;
(d) produce certified transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education
recognized by the division in collaboration with the Social Worker Licensing Board verifying
satisfactory completion of an earned degree resulting from education as follows:
(i) a bachelor's degree in a social work program accredited by the Council on Social
Work Education;
(ii) a master's degree in a field approved by the division in collaboration with the social
worker board;
(iii) a bachelor's degree in any field if the applicant:
(A) has completed at least three semester hours, or the equivalent, in each of the
following areas:
(I) social welfare policy;
(II) human growth and development; and
(III) social work practice methods, as defined by rule; and
(B) provides documentation that the applicant has completed at least 2,000 hours of
qualifying experience under the supervision of a mental health therapist, which experience is
approved by the division in collaboration with the Social Worker Licensing Board, and which
is performed after completion of the requirements to obtain the bachelor's degree required
under this Subsection (4); or
(iv) successful completion of the first academic year of a Council on Social Work
Education approved master's of social work curriculum and practicum; and
(e) pass the examination requirement established by rule under Section 
58-1-203
.
(5) The division shall ensure that the rules for an examination described under
Subsections (1)(h), (2)(e), and (4)(e) allow additional time to complete the examination if
requested by an applicant who is:
(a) a foreign born legal resident of the United States for whom English is a second
language; or
(b) an enrolled member of a federally recognized Native American tribe.
Section 5. Section 
58-60-305
 is amended to read:
58-60-305.
Qualifications for licensure.
(1) All applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists shall:
(a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
;
(c) be of good moral character;
(d) produce certified transcripts evidencing completion of a masters or doctorate degree
in marriage and family therapy from:
(i) a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family
Therapy Education; or
(ii) an accredited institution meeting criteria for approval established by rule under
Section 
58-1-203
;
(e) have completed a minimum of 4,000 hours of marriage and family therapy training
as defined by division rule under Section 
58-1-203
[
,
]
:
(i)
 in not less than two years[
,
]
;
(ii)
 under the supervision of a marriage and family therapist supervisor who meets the
requirements of Section 
58-60-307
[
, and
]
;
(iii)
 obtained after completion of the education requirement in Subsection (1)(d); 
and
(iv) including a minimum of two hours of training in suicide prevention via a course
that the division designates as approved;
(f) document successful completion of not less than 1,000 hours of supervised training
in mental health therapy obtained after completion of the education requirement described in
Subsection (1)(d)(i) or (1)(d)(ii), which training may be included as part of the 4,000 hours of
training described in Subsection (1)(e), and of which documented evidence demonstrates not
less than 100 of the supervised hours were obtained during direct, personal supervision by a
marriage and family therapist supervisor qualified under Section 
58-60-307
, as defined by rule;
and
(g) pass the examination requirement established by division rule under Section
58-1-203
.
(2) (a) All applicants for licensure as an associate marriage and family therapist shall
comply with the provisions of Subsections (1)(a), (b), (c), and (d).
(b) An individual's license as an associate marriage and family therapist is limited to
the period of time necessary to complete clinical training as described in Subsections (1)(e) and
(f) and extends not more than one year from the date the minimum requirement for training is
completed, unless the individual presents satisfactory evidence to the division and the
appropriate board that the individual is making reasonable progress toward passing of the
qualifying examination for that profession or is otherwise on a course reasonably expected to
lead to licensure, but the period of time under this Subsection (2)(b) may not exceed two years
past the date the minimum supervised clinical training requirement has been completed.
Section 6. Section 
58-60-405
 is amended to read:
58-60-405.
Qualifications for licensure.
(1) An applicant for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor shall:
(a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
;
(c) be of good moral character;
(d) produce certified transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education
recognized by the division in collaboration with the board verifying satisfactory completion of:
(i) an education and degree in an education program in counseling with a core
curriculum defined by division rule under Section 
58-1-203
 preparing one to competently
engage in mental health therapy; and
(ii) an earned doctoral or master's degree resulting from that education program;
(e) have completed a minimum of 4,000 hours of clinical mental health counselor
training as defined by division rule under Section 
58-1-203
[
,
]
:
(i)
 in not less than two years[
,
]
;
(ii)
 under the supervision of a clinical mental health counselor, psychiatrist,
psychologist, clinical social worker, registered psychiatric mental health nurse specialist, or
marriage and family therapist supervisor approved by the division in collaboration with the
board[
, and
]
;
(iii)
 obtained after completion of the education requirement in Subsection (1)(d); 
and
(iv) including a minimum of two hours of training in suicide prevention via a course
that the division designates as approved;
(f) document successful completion of not less than 1,000 hours of supervised training
in mental health therapy obtained after completion of the education requirement in Subsection
(1)(d), which training may be included as part of the 4,000 hours of training in Subsection
(1)(e), and of which documented evidence demonstrates not less than 100 of the hours were
obtained under the direct supervision of a mental health therapist, as defined by rule; and
(g) pass the examination requirement established by division rule under Section
58-1-203
.
(2) (a) An applicant for licensure as an associate clinical mental health counselor shall
comply with the provisions of Subsections (1)(a), (b), (c), and (d).
(b) Except as provided under Subsection (2)(c), an individual's licensure as an
associate clinical mental health counselor is limited to the period of time necessary to complete
clinical training as described in Subsections (1)(e) and (f) and extends not more than one year
from the date the minimum requirement for training is completed.
(c) The time period under Subsection (2)(b) may be extended to a maximum of two
years past the date the minimum supervised clinical training requirement has been completed,
if the applicant presents satisfactory evidence to the division and the appropriate board that the
individual is:
(i) making reasonable progress toward passing of the qualifying examination for that
profession; or
(ii) otherwise on a course reasonably expected to lead to licensure.
Section 7. Section 
58-60-506
 is amended to read:
58-60-506.
Qualifications for licensure.
(1) An applicant for licensure under this part on and after July 1, 2012, must meet the
following qualifications:
(a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 
63J-1-504
;
(c) be of good moral character;
(d) satisfy the requirements of Subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) respectively; and
(e) except for licensure as a certified substance use disorder counselor intern and a
certified advanced substance use disorder counselor intern, satisfy the examination requirement
established by division rule under Section 
58-1-203
.
(2) In accordance with division rules, an applicant for licensure as an advanced
substance use disorder counselor shall produce:
(a) certified transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education that:
(i) meet division standards;
(ii) verify the satisfactory completion of a baccalaureate or graduate degree; and
(iii) verify the completion of prerequisite courses established by division rules;
(b) documentation of the applicant's completion of a substance use disorder education
program that includes:
(i) at least 300 hours of substance use disorder related education, of which 200 hours
may have been obtained while qualifying for a substance use disorder counselor license; and
(ii) a supervised practicum of at least 350 hours, of which 200 hours may have been
obtained while qualifying for a substance use disorder counselor license; and
(c) documentation of the applicant's completion of at least 4,000 hours of supervised
experience in substance use disorder treatment, of which 2,000 hours may have been obtained
while qualifying for a substance use disorder counselor license, that:
(i) meets division standards; and
(ii) is performed within a four-year period after the applicant's completion of the
substance use disorder education program described in Subsection (2)(b), unless, as determined
by the division after consultation with the board, the time for performance is extended due to
an extenuating circumstance.
(3) An applicant for licensure as a certified advanced substance use disorder counselor
shall meet the requirements in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
(4) (a) An applicant for licensure as a certified advanced substance use disorder
counselor intern shall meet the requirements in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
(b) A certified advanced substance use disorder counselor intern license expires at the
earlier of:
(i) the licensee passing the examination required for licensure as a certified advanced
substance use disorder counselor; or
(ii) six months after the certified advanced substance use disorder counselor intern
license is issued.
(5) In accordance with division rules, an applicant for licensure as a substance use
disorder counselor shall produce:
(a) certified transcripts from an accredited institution that:
(i) meet division standards;
(ii) verify satisfactory completion of an associate's degree or equivalent as defined by
the division in rule; and
(iii) verify the completion of prerequisite courses established by division rules;
(b) documentation of the applicant's completion of a substance use disorder education
program that includes:
(i) completion of at least 200 hours of substance use disorder related education; [
and
]
(ii) included in the 200 hours described in Subsection (5)(b)(i), a minimum of two
hours of training in suicide prevention via a course that the division designates as approved;
and
[
(ii)
] 
(iii)
 completion of a supervised practicum of at least 200 hours; and
(c) documentation of the applicant's completion of at least 2,000 hours of supervised
experience in substance use disorder treatment that:
(i) meets division standards; and
(ii) is performed within a two-year period after the applicant's completion of the
substance use disorder education program described in Subsection (5)(b), unless, as determined
by the division after consultation with the board, the time for performance is extended due to
an extenuating circumstance.
(6) An applicant for licensure as a certified substance use disorder counselor shall meet
the requirements of Subsections (5)(a) and (b).
(7) (a) An applicant for licensure as a certified substance use disorder counselor intern
shall meet the requirements of Subsections (5)(a) and (b).
(b) A certified substance use disorder counselor intern license expires at the earlier of:
(i) the licensee passing the examination required for licensure as a certified substance
use disorder counselor; or
(ii) six months after the certified substance use disorder counselor intern license is
issued.