The bill amends the Public Health Code to enhance the processes surrounding child abuse and neglect investigations, as well as the regulation of counseling practices. A significant change is the replacement of "family independence agency" with "department of health and human services" regarding notifications to licensees or registrants about ongoing investigations. It mandates that these professionals provide relevant medical records to the department within 14 days of a request, while clarifying that certain privileges, such as physician-patient and psychologist-patient privileges, do not apply to these records. This ensures that necessary information can be accessed to protect children.

Additionally, the bill updates the definitions and practices for licensed professional counselors and limited licensed professional counselors, emphasizing the need for proper training and outlining the requirements for obtaining and renewing licenses. It introduces gender-neutral language throughout the text, replacing terms like "he or she" with "the individual" or "the licensee." The bill also specifies that individuals seeking certification must demonstrate compliance with standards set by recognized certification bodies and allows for relicensure under certain conditions for those who obtained their degrees before specific dates. Furthermore, it reinforces the confidentiality of communications between licensed counselors and their clients, while requiring verification of any disciplinary actions from other states for relicensure applicants.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 333.16281