H-0614.1
HOUSE BILL 1444
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2021 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule, Wicks, Simmons, Berry, J. Johnson, Taylor,
Orwall, Ryu, Fitzgibbon, Ramel, Wylie, Pollet, Thai, and Harris-
Talley
Read first time 02/01/21. Referred to Committee on Education.
1 AN ACT Relating to providing trauma-informed counseling and
2 supports to students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic;
3 adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW; adding a new section to
4 chapter 28A.320 RCW; and providing expiration dates.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.410
7 RCW to read as follows:
8 (1) The Washington professional educator standards board shall
9 adopt rules to implement a limited mental health staff certificate
10 that meets the requirements in this section.
11 (2) The role of a person with a limited mental health staff
12 certificate is to provide trauma-informed counseling and supports to
13 students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of a
14 person with a limited mental health staff certificate is not to
15 provide academic counseling.
16 (3) Except for a person who has a restriction on a license or
17 certificate for violation of chapter 18.130 RCW, a limited mental
18 health staff certificate may be issued to an applicant who is
19 licensed or certified in any of the following professions:
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 1 (a) Mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist,
2 social worker, or associate level providers in these professions,
3 licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;
4 (b) Substance use disorder professional, or substance use
5 disorder professional trainee, certified under chapter 18.205 RCW; or
6 (c) Psychologists licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW.
7 (4) All limited mental health staff certificates expire July 1,
8 2025.
9 (5) Nothing in this section authorizes practice by a person
10 licensed under the chapters set forth in subsection (3) of this
11 section that is otherwise prohibited or restricted by any other law,
12 including licensure statutes and rules and regulations adopted by the
13 appropriate licensure board or agency, from practicing or working in
14 a school.
15 (6) This section expires July 1, 2025.
16 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320
17 RCW to read as follows:
18 (1) Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, school districts must
19 employ one person with either a school counselor certificate or a
20 limited mental health staff certificate for every 150 full-time
21 equivalent students.
22 (2) This section expires July 1, 2025.
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