The bill HB1359 proposes the consolidation and restructuring of several existing boards related to mental health professions in Arkansas, specifically abolishing the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, the Arkansas Psychology Board, and the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board. In their place, it establishes the Arkansas State Board of Mental Health Professionals, which will inherit the authority, powers, duties, functions, records, contracts, personnel, and funds of the abolished boards. The bill aims to streamline the licensure process for mental health professionals, improve access to qualified providers, and address challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes provisions for the new board to create committees based on professional specialties and amends existing laws to reflect the new board's authority, including changes to the appointment process for the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Autism.

Additionally, the bill introduces significant amendments to the qualifications and licensing processes for various mental health professionals, including marriage and family therapists and counselors. It removes specific educational and experience requirements, such as the necessity of a master's degree and the requirement for direct supervision for associate marriage and family therapists. The bill also allows for waiving examination requirements for candidates already licensed in other states and mandates criminal background checks for applicants. Furthermore, it establishes new provisions regarding the confidentiality of communications between licensed professionals and their clients, equating them to attorney-client privilege. Overall, HB1359 aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of mental health regulation in Arkansas while ensuring public safety and ethical standards are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1359 Original - 2-6-2023 03:31 PM: 10-3-2602(b), 17-80-302(e), 17-97-102(a), 17-97-201, 17-97-202, 17-3-102, 25-16-901, 17-97-203, 17-97-204(a), 17-97-302(a), 17-97-303(a), 17-97-304(a), 17-97-305(a), 17-97-306, 17-97-308(a), 17-97-309(a), 17-97-310(a), 17-97-311(a), 17-97-312(a), 17-97-401(c), 17-97-403(a), 17-97-405(c), 17-97-406(a), 17-97-502(a), 17-103-103(2), 17-103-105(2), 17-103-106(b), 17-103-201, 17-103-202, 25-16-902, 25-16-904, 17-103-203(a), 17-103-204(a), 17-103-204(d), 17-103-205, 17-103-302, 17-103-304(a), 17-103-305(a), 17-103-306(a), 17-103-307(a), 19-6-440, 19-6-301, 17-103-101, 20-45-201, 17-103-306(c), 17-27-303, 17-27-304, 17-27-301, 23-86-113(g), 25-1-117(a), 25-15-104(a), 25-16-903(32), 25-16-904(22), 25-43-802(a)
Old version HB1359 V2 - 2-9-2023 09:13 AM: 10-3-2602(b), 17-80-302(e), 17-97-102(a), 17-97-201, 17-97-202, 02-09-2023, 17-3-102, 25-16-901, 17-97-203, 17-97-204(a), 17-97-302(a), 17-97-303(a), 17-97-304(a), 17-97-305(a), 17-97-306, 17-97-308(a), 17-97-309(a), 17-97-310(a), 17-97-311(a), 17-97-312(a), 17-97-401(c), 17-97-403(a), 17-97-405(c), 17-97-406(a), 17-97-502(a), 17-103-103(2), 17-103-105(2), 17-103-106(b), 17-103-201, 17-103-202, 25-16-902, 25-16-904, 17-103-203(a), 17-103-204(a), 17-103-204(d), 17-103-205, 17-103-302, 17-103-304(a), 17-103-305(a), 17-103-306(a), 17-103-307(a), 19-6-440, 19-6-301, 17-103-101, 20-45-201, 17-103-306(c), 17-27-303, 17-27-304, 17-27-301, 23-86-113(g), 25-1-117(a), 25-15-104(a), 25-16-903(32), 25-16-904(22), 25-43-802(a)
Old version HB1359 V3 - 2-14-2023 10:05 AM: 10-3-2602(b), 17-80-302(e), 17-97-102(a), 17-97-201, 17-97-202, 02-14-2023, 17-3-102, 25-16-901, 17-97-203, 17-97-204(a), 17-97-302(a), 17-97-303(a), 17-97-304(a), 17-97-305(a), 17-97-306, 17-97-308(a), 17-97-309(a), 17-97-310(a), 17-97-311(a), 17-97-312(a), 17-97-401(c), 17-97-403(a), 17-97-405(c), 17-97-406(a), 17-97-502(a), 17-103-103(2), 17-103-105(2), 17-103-106(b), 17-103-201, 17-103-202, 25-16-902, 25-16-904, 17-103-203(a), 17-103-204(a), 17-103-204(d), 17-103-205, 17-103-302, 17-103-304(a), 17-103-305(a), 17-103-306(a), 17-103-307(a), 19-6-440, 19-6-301, 17-103-101, 20-45-201, 17-103-306(c), 17-27-303, 17-27-304, 17-27-301, 23-86-113(g), 25-1-117(a), 25-15-104(a), 25-16-903(32), 25-16-904(22), 25-43-802(a)
Old version HB1359 V4 - 2-16-2023 09:48 AM: 10-3-2602(b), 17-80-302(e), 17-97-102(a), 17-97-201, 17-97-202, 02-16-2023, 17-3-102, 25-16-901, 17-97-203, 17-97-204(a), 17-97-302(a), 17-97-303(a), 17-97-304(a), 17-97-305(a), 17-97-306, 17-97-308(a), 17-97-309(a), 17-97-310(a), 17-97-311(a), 17-97-312(a), 17-97-401(c), 17-97-403(a), 17-97-405(c), 17-97-406(a), 17-97-502(a), 17-103-103(2), 17-103-105(2), 17-103-106(b), 17-103-201, 17-103-202, 25-16-902, 25-16-904, 17-103-203(a), 17-103-204(a), 17-103-204(d), 17-103-205, 17-103-302, 17-103-304(a), 17-103-305(a), 17-103-306(a), 17-103-307(a), 19-6-440, 19-6-301, 17-103-101, 20-45-201, 17-103-306(c), 17-27-303, 17-27-304, 17-27-301, 23-86-113(g), 25-1-117(a), 25-15-104(a), 25-16-903(32), 25-16-904(22), 25-43-802(a)
HB 1359: 10-3-2602(b), 17-80-302(e), 17-97-102(a), 17-97-201, 17-97-202, 02-16-2023, 17-3-102, 25-16-901, 17-97-203, 17-97-204(a), 17-97-302(a), 17-97-303(a), 17-97-304(a), 17-97-305(a), 17-97-306, 17-97-308(a), 17-97-309(a), 17-97-310(a), 17-97-311(a), 17-97-312(a), 17-97-401(c), 17-97-403(a), 17-97-405(c), 17-97-406(a), 17-97-502(a), 17-103-103(2), 17-103-105(2), 17-103-106(b), 17-103-201, 17-103-202, 25-16-902, 25-16-904, 17-103-203(a), 17-103-204(a), 17-103-204(d), 17-103-205, 17-103-302, 17-103-304(a), 17-103-305(a), 17-103-306(a), 17-103-307(a), 19-6-440, 19-6-301, 17-103-101, 20-45-201, 17-103-306(c), 17-27-303, 17-27-304, 17-27-301, 23-86-113(g), 25-1-117(a), 25-15-104(a), 25-16-903(32), 25-16-904(22), 25-43-802(a)