This bill establishes a compact to facilitate the interstate practice of licensed professional counselors in order to improve public access to counseling services. The compact aims to increase public access to counseling services, enhance states' ability to protect public health and safety, encourage cooperation among member states in regulating multistate practice, support military spouses, enhance the exchange of licensure information among states, allow for the use of telehealth technology, support uniform licensure requirements, hold counselors accountable for meeting state practice laws, eliminate the need for licenses in multiple states, and provide opportunities for interstate practice for counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements.

The bill also adds a new chapter to the General Laws entitled "Counseling Compact." This chapter includes definitions for terms used in the compact, such as "active duty military," "adverse action," "alternative program," "continuing competence," "counseling compact commission," "current significant investigative information," "data system," "encumbered license," "encumbrance," "executive committee," "home state," "impaired practitioner," "investigative information," "jurisprudence requirement," "licensed professional counselor," "licensee," "licensing board," "member state," "privilege to practice," and "professional counseling."

This bill proposes the creation of a compact that allows licensed professional counselors to practice in multiple states. The bill defines various terms related to the compact, such as "remote state" and "telehealth." It also outlines the requirements for states to participate in the compact, including licensing and regulating professional counselors, requiring certain educational qualifications, and having a mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints about licensees. The bill also establishes the privileges and responsibilities of licensed professional counselors who practice in a remote state. These counselors must hold a license in their home state, meet certain eligibility requirements, and adhere to the laws and regulations of the remote state. The remote state has the authority to remove a counselor's privilege to practice if necessary to protect the health and safety of its citizens. If a counselor's home state license is encumbered, they will lose the privilege to practice in any remote state until their license is restored to good standing.