SB321: Bill Text

LRB-2633/1

MDK:cmh&jlg:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate BILL 321

January 12, 2000 - Introduced by Senators Roessler, Rude, Robson, Farrow and Darling, cosponsored by Representatives Jeskewitz, Urban, Kelso, Kreibich and Spillner, by request of Secretary Marlene A. Cummings, the Department of Regulation and Licensing and the Examining Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors. Referred to Committee on Human Services and Aging.

SB321,1,4 An Act to amend 457.16 (3) and 457.20 (2); and to create 457.11 of the statutes; relating to: creating a marriage and family therapist training certificate and changing the eligibility requirements for taking the examination for a marriage and family therapist or professional counselor certificate.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the professional counselor and marriage and family therapist sections of the examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors (board) grant certificates that allow persons to use certain titles related to professional counseling and marriage and family therapy. To qualify for a certificate, a person must satisfy certain education, examination and supervised clinical practice requirements. However, a person may not take the examination that is required until after he or she satisfies the supervised clinical practice requirements.

Under this bill, a person may take the examination that is required for a professional counselor or marriage and family therapist certificate before he or she satisfies the supervised clinical practice requirements.

This bill also creates a marriage and family therapist training certificate (training certificate) that is granted by the marriage and family therapist section. A person is eligible for a training certificate if he or she submits an application, pays a fee and satisfies the same education requirements that are required for a marriage and family therapist certificate. In addition, he or she must be employed part time or full time, or have an offer of part-time or full-time employment, as a marriage and family therapist in a supervised clinical marriage and family therapist practice, or in a position in which he or she will receive training and supervision that is equivalent to the training and supervision received in a supervised clinical marriage and family therapist practice.

Under the bill, the training certificate is valid for 24 months or until the person who holds the training certificate is no longer employed as a marriage and family therapist in a supervised clinical marriage and family therapist practice or an equivalent position, whichever is earlier. A person who holds a training certificate may use the titles "marriage and family therapist", "marriage and family counselor" or any similar title, and is considered to be certified as a marriage and family therapist for the purpose of any law governing marriage and family therapists.

Finally, the bill provides that a training certificate cannot be renewed.

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:

SB321, s. 1 Section 1. 457.11 of the statutes is created to read:

SB321,2,4 457.11 Marriage and family therapist training certificate. (1) The marriage and family therapist section shall grant a marriage and family therapist training certificate to any individual who does all of the following:

SB321,2,6 (a) Submits an application for the certificate to the department on a form provided by the department.

SB321,2,7 (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (6).

SB321,2,8 (c) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.10 (2).

SB321,3,2 (d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section that he or she is employed part time or full time, or has an offer of part-time or full-time employment, as a marriage and family therapist in a supervised clinical marriage and family therapist practice or in a position in which the applicant will, in the opinion of the marriage and family therapist section, receive training and supervision equivalent to the training and supervision received in a supervised clinical marriage and family therapist practice.

SB321,3,6 (2) A marriage and family therapist training certificate is valid for 24 months or until the date on which the holder of the certificate ceases to be employed in a position specified in sub. (1) (d), whichever occurs first, and may not be renewed by the marriage and family therapist section.

SB321,3,9 (3) (a) A marriage and family therapist training certificate authorizes the holder to use any title specified in s. 457.04 (5) during the period in which the certificate is valid.

SB321,3,12 (b) A marriage and family therapist training certificate holder is a marriage and family therapist certified under this chapter for purposes of any law governing marriage and family therapists certified under this chapter.

SB321, s. 2 Section 2. 457.16 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB321,3,19 457.16 (3) An individual is not eligible for examination unless he or she satisfies the requirements for certification under s. 457.08 (1) (a) and (b), (2) (intro.), (a) and (b), (3) (intro.) and (a) to (c) or (4) (intro.) and (a) to (c), 457.10 (1) to (3) and (2) or 457.12 (1) to (3) and (2) and, at least 30 days before the date of the examination, submits an application for examination to the department on a form provided by the department and pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

SB321, s. 3 Section 3. 457.20 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB321,3,23 457.20 (2) The renewal dates for certificates granted under this chapter, other than certificates granted under ss. 457.09, 457.11, 457.13 and 457.14, are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a).

SB321, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

SB321,4,3 (1) The treatment of section 457.16 (3) of the statutes first applies to applications for examinations submitted to the department of regulation and licensing on the effective date of this subsection.

SB321,4,4 (End)