Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Abstract: Revises the Addictive Disorders Practice Act; provides for the governing board of the
      Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority to be the successor to the La. Dept. of Health with
      respect to credentialing of professionals who engage in the practice of counseling of persons
      with addictive disorders.
Present law provides for the licensing, certification, registration, and other credentialing of the
following professionals who engage in the practice of counseling of persons with addictive disorders:
(1)    Licensed addiction counselors.
(2)    Certified addiction counselors.
(3)    Registered addiction counselors.
(4)    Counselors-in-training.
(5)    Addiction treatment assistants.
(6)    Certified clinical supervisors.
(7)    Certified compulsive gambling counselors.
(8)    Licensed prevention professionals.
(9)    Certified prevention professionals.
(10)   Registered prevention professionals.
(11)   Certified prevention supervisors.
(12)   Prevention services assistants.
Proposed law repeals all provisions relating to prevention services assistants. Retains provisions
relating to the other professionals listed above.
Present law provides that the authority for issuing and recognizing credentials for professionals
engaged in providing counseling and prevention services for those who suffer from addictive
disorders shall be the office of behavioral health of the La. Department of Health (department).
Proposed law changes this authority from the department to the governing board of the Addictive
Disorder Regulatory Authority created and provided for in present law (board).
Present law provides for enumerated powers and duties of the department with respect to
credentialing of professionals engaged in providing counseling and prevention services for those who
suffer from addictive disorders. Proposed law revises present law to assign these powers and duties
to the board.
Present law establishes the scope of practice and credentialing requirements for licensed addiction
counselors, certified addiction counselors, and registered addiction counselors, respectively.
Proposed law deletes requirements that licensed addiction counselor candidates, certified addiction
counselor candidates, and registered addiction counselor candidates demonstrate competence by
passing an oral examination. Otherwise, retains present law, including the requirement that
candidates demonstrate competence by passing a written examination.
Proposed law establishes the following limitations and requirements for certified addiction
counselors:
(1)    The certified addiction counselor shall work only under the supervision of a licensed
       addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional.
(2)    The certified addiction counselor shall register his supervisory licensed addiction counselor
       or qualified mental health professional with the board.
(3)    Supervisory contact between the certified addiction counselor and the supervisory licensed
       addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional shall be regular and documented,
       and shall be provided to the board upon request.
Proposed law establishes the following limitations and requirements for registered addiction
counselors:
(1)    The registered addiction counselor shall work only under the supervision of a licensed
       addiction counselor or other qualified mental health professional.
(2)    The registered addiction counselor shall register his supervisory licensed addiction counselor
       or other qualified mental health professional with the Addictive Disorder Regulatory
       Authority.
(3)    Supervisory contact between the registered addiction counselor and the supervisory licensed
       addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional must be regular and documented,
       and shall be provided to the board.
Proposed law authorizes the board, in its discretion, to maintain the confidentiality of an individual
licensee, registrant, or certificate holder who violates a provision of present law or proposed law
whenever it determines that the public interest will be best served by alternatives to the disciplinary
process.
Proposed law repeals the following provisions of present law:
(1)     Provisions relating to prevention services assistants.
(2)     Date-specific provisions that have become obsolete.
(Amends R.S. 36:259(A)(20) and R.S. 37:3386.1-3387.4, 3387.5(B)-(D), (E)(intro. para.) and (1)-
(3), (F), and (G)(2)-(4), 3387.6(B)-(D), (E)(intro. para.), (2), (3), (5), and (6), (F), (G)(2)-(4), and (I),
3387.10(B), (C), (D)(intro. para.), (1)-(4), (5)(b)-(d), and (6)-(8), and (E), 3387.11(B), (C), (D)(intro.
para.), (1)-(4), (5)(b)-(d), and (6)-(8), and (E), 3387.12(B), (C), (D)(intro. para.), (1)-(4), (5)(b)-(d),
and (6)-(8), and (E), 3387.14(B)-(E), 3388(B) and (C), 3388.1(B) and (C), 3388.2(B)-(D),
3388.3(A), 3388.4(A)(intro. para.) and (8)-(11) and (B), 3389, 3390, 3390.1(C) and (D), 3390.2,
3390.3(A)(intro. para.), (3), (5), (7), and (12) and (B)-(D), 3390.4(intro. para.) and (5), and
3390.6(A) and (B)(intro. para.) and (1)-(7); Adds R.S. 37:3388.4(A)(13)-(15) and 3390.3(E);
Repeals R.S. 37:3387.10(F) and (G), 3387.13, and 3388.3(B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
   The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
         original bill:
   1.    Make technical changes.
Statutes affected: 
HB822 Original: 36:259(A)(20), 37:5(B), 37:6(B), 37:10(B), 37:11(B), 37:12(B), 37:14(B), 37:3388(B), 37:1(B), 37:2(B), 37:3(A), 37:4(A), 37:1(C), 37:4, 37:6(A)
HB822 Engrossed: 36:259(A)(20), 37:5(B), 37:6(B), 37:10(B), 37:11(B), 37:12(B), 37:14(B), 37:3388(B), 37:1(B), 37:2(B), 37:3(A), 37:4(A), 37:1(C), 37:4, 37:6(A), 37:10(F), 37:3(B)
HB822 Reengrossed: 36:259(A)(20), 37:5(B), 37:6(B), 37:10(B), 37:11(B), 37:12(B), 37:14(B), 37:3388(B), 37:1(B), 37:2(B), 37:3(A), 37:4(A), 37:1(C), 37:4, 37:6(A), 37:10(F), 37:3(B)