AB420: Bill Text

The bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, a person from practicing clinical social work, marriage and family therapy or professional counseling unless he or she is licensed. In addition, the bill prohibits persons who are not licensed under the bill from practicing psychotherapy, except for persons certified as advanced practice and independent social workers who practice psychotherapy under the supervision of persons licensed under the bill and except for persons who practice psychotherapy within the scope of practice of other state or federal licenses.

The eligibility requirements for a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor license under the bill are the same as the requirements for a certificate under current law, except for the requirement that an applicant must have two full years of supervised clinical experience approved by the examining board. Under this bill, this experience must be supervised by an individual who holds the same license for which the applicant is applying and who has: 1) a doctorate degree; 2) a master's degree and five years of clinical practice; or 3) comparable educational or practical experience specified in rules promulgated by the examining board.

Under current law, no social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor certificate is required for a person to use any of the following titles: "pastoral counselor", "investment counselor", "vocational counselor", "career counselor", "alcohol and drug counselor" or "chemical dependency counselor". This bill does not require a person to be certified or licensed to use such a title or to engage in such counseling or to use the title "employe assistance counselor" or to engage in such counseling. Under current law, no certificate is required for a person who has been granted a school social worker or school counselor license by the department of public instruction to use the title "school social worker" or "school counselor". This bill does not require such a person to be certified or licensed to use such a title. The bill's licensing requirements also do not apply to a person who is: 1) lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government; or 2) licensed to practice clinical social work, marriage and family therapy or professional counseling in another state or territory of the United States and who provides a consultation or demonstration with a person who has been granted a license.

The bill also makes other changes to the regulation of social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling, including the following:

1. The bill requires the examining board to promulgate rules that specify the different levels of psychometric testing that may be performed by persons who are certified as social workers, independent social workers or advanced practice social workers or who are licensed under the bill.

2. The bill allows the examining board to promulgate professional conduct and continuing education requirements upon the advice of the members of the examining board who are certified or licensed under the bill.

3. The bill changes the name of the social worker and professional counselor training "certificates" that may be issued under current law to training "permits", but does not make any other changes regarding these certificates under current law.

4. The bill creates a clinical marriage and family therapist training permit.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB420, s. 1 Section 1. 15.08 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,4,11 15.08 (1m) (b) The public members of the chiropractic examining board, the dentistry examining board, the hearing and speech examining board, the medical examining board, occupational therapy examining council, respiratory care practitioners examining council and council on physician assistants, the board of nursing, the nursing home administrator examining board, the veterinary examining board, the optometry examining board, the pharmacy examining board, the social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors and the psychology examining board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.

AB420, s. 2 Section 2. 15.405 (7c) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB420,4,14 15.405 (7c) (title) Social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling examining board.

AB420, s. 3 Section 3. 15.405 (7c) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 15.405 (7c) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB420,5,5 15.405 (7c) (a) (intro.) There is created an a social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors in the department of regulation and licensing. The consisting of the following members of the examining board shall be appointed for 4-year terms. Four:

AB420,5,7 1. Three members shall be who are certified under ch. 457 as social workers. Three members shall be certified under ch. 457 as

AB420,5,9 3. Two clinical marriage and family therapists. Three therapist members shall be certified under ch. 457 as who are licensed under ch. 457.

AB420,5,11 4. Two clinical professional counselors. Three members shall be counselor members who are licensed under ch. 457.

AB420,5,14 5. Three public members. Of the 4 certified social worker members, one shall be who represent groups that promote the interests of consumers of services provided by persons who are certified or licensed under ch. 457.

AB420,5,15 (am) The 3 members appointed under par. (a) 1. shall consist of the following:

AB420,5,17 1. One member who is certified under ch. 457 as an advanced practice social worker, one shall be.

AB420,5,19 2. One member who is certified under ch. 457 as an independent social worker, one shall be certified under ch. 457 as an independent clinical social worker and at.

AB420,5,21 3. At least one shall be member who is employed as a social worker by a federal, state or local governmental agency.

AB420, s. 4 Section 4. 15.405 (7c) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,5,24 15.405 (7c) (a) 2. Two clinical social worker members who are licensed under ch. 457.

AB420, s. 5 Section 5. 15.405 (7c) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB420,6,7 15.405 (7c) (b) In operation, the examining board shall be divided into a certification section and a licensure section. The certification section shall consist of the members of the examining board appointed under par. (a) 1. and one of the public members of the examining board. The licensure section shall consist of the members of the examining board appointed under par. (a) 2., 3. and 4. and the public members of the examining board, including the public member who is also a member of the certification section.

AB420, s. 6 Section 6. 15.405 (7c) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB420,6,13 15.405 (7c) (c) All matters pertaining to granting, denying, limiting, suspending or revoking a certificate under ch. 457 shall be acted upon solely by the certification section of the examining board and all matters pertaining to granting, denying, limiting, suspending or revoking a license under ch. 457 shall be acted upon solely by the licensure section of the examining board.

AB420, s. 7 Section 7. 15.405 (7c) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,6,17 15.405 (7c) (d) All matters that the examining board determines are of joint interest shall be considered by joint meetings of all both sections of the examining board or of those sections to which the problem is of interest.

AB420, s. 8 Section 8. 15.405 (7c) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,6,24 15.405 (7c) (e) Notwithstanding s. 15.08 (4) (a), at a joint meeting of all both sections of the examining board, a majority of the examining board constitutes a quorum to do business only if at least 8 members are present at the meeting. At a meeting of a section of the examining board or a joint meeting of 2 or more of the both sections of the examining board, each member who is present has one vote, except as provided in par. (f).

AB420, s. 9 Section 9. 15.405 (7c) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,7,4 15.405 (7c) (f) At a joint meeting of the social worker section and one or both of the other both sections of the examining board, each member who is present has one vote, except that the social worker nonpublic members of the certification section each have three-fourths two-thirds of a vote if all 4 3 of those members are present.

AB420, s. 10 Section 10. 48.981 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,8,2 48.981 (2) Persons required to report. A physician, coroner, medical examiner, nurse, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, acupuncturist, other medical or mental health professional, social worker, clinical marriage and family therapist, clinical professional counselor, public assistance worker, including a financial and employment planner, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (d), school teacher, administrator or counselor, mediator under s. 767.11, child care worker in a day care center or child caring institution, day care provider, alcohol or other drug abuse counselor, member of the treatment staff employed by or working under contract with a county department under s. 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, emergency medical technician or police or law enforcement officer having reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or having reason to believe that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided under sub. (2m), report as provided in sub. (3). Any other person, including an attorney, having reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur may make such a report. Any person, including an attorney having reason to suspect that an unborn child has been abused or reason to believe that an unborn child is at substantial risk of abuse may report as provided in sub. (3). No person making a report under this subsection may be discharged from employment for so doing.

AB420, s. 11 Section 11. 146.81 (1) (hg) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,8,5 146.81 (1) (hg) A social worker, clinical marriage and family therapist or clinical professional counselor certified or licensed under ch. 457.

AB420, s. 12 Section 12. 180.1901 (1m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,8,9 180.1901 (1m) (f) Examining Social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors under ch. 457.

AB420, s. 13 Section 13. 252.10 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,8,19 252.10 (7) Drugs necessary for the treatment of mycobacterium tuberculosis shall be purchased by the department from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (e) and dispensed to patients through the public health dispensaries or through health care providers, as defined in s. 146.81 (1), other than massage therapists or bodyworkers issued a license of registration under subch. x of ch. 440, social workers, clinical marriage and family therapists or clinical professional counselors certified or licensed under ch. 457, speech-language pathologists or audiologists licensed under subch. II of ch. 459, speech and language pathologists licensed by the department of public instruction or dietitians certified under subch. V of ch. 448.

AB420, s. 14 Section 14. 252.14 (1) (ar) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,8,22 252.14 (1) (ar) 7. A social worker, clinical marriage and family therapist or clinical professional counselor certified or licensed under ch. 457.

AB420, s. 15 Section 15. 440.08 (2) (a) 46m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,8,25 440.08 (2) (a) 46m. Marriage Clinical marriage and family therapist: July 1 of each odd-numbered year; $66.

AB420, s. 16 Section 16. 440.08 (2) (a) 63m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,9,3 440.08 (2) (a) 63m. Professional Clinical professional counselor: July 1 of each odd-numbered year; $55.

AB420, s. 17 Section 17. 450.10 (3) (a) 10. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,9,6 450.10 (3) (a) 10. A social worker, clinical marriage and family therapist or clinical professional counselor certified or licensed under ch. 457.

AB420, s. 18 Section 18. Chapter 457 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB420,9,9 Chapter 457

AB420,9,12 Social work, marriage and family therapy ANd professional counseling examining board

AB420, s. 19 Section 19. 457.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 457.01 (1m).

AB420, s. 20 Section 20. 457.01 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,9,16 457.01 (1e) "Advanced practice social worker" means an individual who holds an advanced practice social worker certificate granted by the certification section.

AB420, s. 21 Section 21. 457.01 (1o) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,9,19 457.01 (1o) "Certification section" means the certification section of the examining board.

AB420, s. 22 Section 22. 457.01 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,9,25 457.01 (1r) "Clinical social work" means providing services without supervision for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental and emotional disorders in individuals, families and groups, to restore, maintain and enhance social functioning through treatment interventions that include psychosocial evaluation, counseling of individuals, families or groups, referral to community resources, advocacy, facilitation of organizational change to meet social needs and individual, marital or group psychotherapy.

AB420, s. 23 Section 23. 457.01 (1s) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,10,5 457.01 (1s) "Clinical social worker" means an individual who holds a license to practice clinical social work granted by the licensure section.

AB420, s. 24 Section 24. 457.01 (1w) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,10,8 457.01 (1w) "Credential" means a license, certificate or permit granted under this chapter.

AB420, s. 25 Section 25. 457.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,10,12 457.01 (2) "Examining board" means the social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.

AB420, s. 26 Section 26. 457.01 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,10,15 457.01 (2g) "Independent social worker" means an individual who holds an independent social worker certificate granted by the certification section.

AB420, s. 27 Section 27. 457.01 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,10,17 457.01 (2r) "Licensee" means a person who is licensed under this chapter.

AB420, s. 28 Section 28. 457.01 (2w) of the statutes is created to read:

AB420,10,20 457.01 (2w) "Licensure section" means the licensure section of the examining board.

AB420, s. 29 Section 29. 457.01 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 457.01 (1p) and amended to read:

AB420,10,25 457.01 (1p) "Marriage Clinical marriage and family therapist" means an individual who practices holds a license to practice marriage and family therapy granted by the licensure section.

AB420, s. 30 Section 30. 457.01 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB420, s. 31 Section 31. 457.01 (7) of the statutes is renumbered 457.01 (1q) and amended to read:

AB420,11,6 457.01 (1q) "Professional Clinical professional counselor" means an individual who practices holds a license to practice professional counseling granted by the licensure section.

AB420, s. 32 Section 32. 457.01 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB420, s. 33 Section 33. 457.01 (8m) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB420,11,14 457.01 (8m) "Psychotherapy" means the treatment, diagnosis, testing, assessment or counseling in a professional relationship to assist individuals or groups in alleviating mental or emotional disorders, understanding unconscious or conscious motivation, resolving emotional, relationship or attitudinal conflicts or modifying behavior that interferes with effective emotional, social or intellectual functioning.

AB420, s. 34 Section 34. 457.01 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,11,25 457.01 (9) "Social work" means applying psychosocial , psychotherapeutic or counseling principles, methods or procedures in the assessment, evaluation, or psychosocial or psychotherapeutic diagnosis, prevention, treatment or resolution of a difficulty in the social, psychological, personal, emotional or mental disorder functioning of an individual, couple, family, group of individuals or community, including the enhancement or restoration of, or the creation of societal conditions favorable to the enhancement or restoration of, the capacity of an individual, couple, family, group of individuals or community for social functioning or the delivery of services to a group of individuals or a community to assist the group or community in providing or improving the provision of social or health services to others.

AB420, s. 35 Section 35. 457.01 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB420,12,3 457.01 (10) "Social worker" means an individual who practices holds a social work worker certificate granted by the certification section.

AB420, s. 36 Section 36. 457.01 (11) of the statutes is repealed.

AB420, s. 37 Section 37. 457.02 (1) to (5) of the statutes are amended to read: