KP:kjf
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
October 14, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Ballweg, Doyle,
Cabrera, Duchow, Edming, James, Milroy, Mursau, Oldenburg, Petersen,
Petryk, Ramthun, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Schraa, Spiros, C. Taylor, Tittl,
Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vining and Wittke, cosponsored by Senators
Bernier, Carpenter, Nass, Olsen and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on
Health.
AB526,1,6 1An Act to consolidate, renumber and amend 440.88 (9) (intro.) and (b); to
2amend
440.88 (9) (a), 448.13 (1) (a) 1., 455.065 (1) and 457.22 (1) (intro.); and
3to create 457.22 (3) of the statutes; relating to: requiring continuing
4education on suicide prevention for physicians, psychologists, social workers,
5marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and substance abuse
6counselors and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires two hours of continuing education on suicide prevention to be
completed every two years for each of the following types of practitioners to renew
their credentials: 1) physicians; 2) psychologists; 3) private practice school
psychologists; 4) social workers; 5) advanced practice social workers; 6) independent
social workers; 7) clinical social workers; 8) marriage and family therapists; 9)
professional counselors; 10) substance abuse counselors; 11) clinical substance abuse
counselors; and 12) prevention specialists. Under current law, each of those types
of professionals must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education every two
years to renew their credentials, except that psychologists and private practice
school psychologists are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education every
two years to renew their licenses.

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:
AB526,1 1Section 1. 440.88 (9) (intro.) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated,
2renumbered 440.88 (9) (bm) and amended to read:
AB526,2,43 440.88 (9) (bm) The department may do all of the following: (b) Require require
4continuing education as part of any disciplinary process for an individual.
AB526,2 5Section 2. 440.88 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB526,2,126 440.88 (9) (a) Establish The department shall establish the minimum number
7of hours of continuing education required for renewal of certification under this
8section and the topic areas that the continuing education must cover. The rules
9promulgated under this paragraph shall require each substance abuse counselor,
10clinical substance abuse counselor, and prevention specialist to complete at least 2
11hours of continuing education programs or courses on suicide prevention to renew
12a certification under this section.
AB526,3 13Section 3. 448.13 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB526,2,1814 448.13 (1) (a) 1. Continuing education programs or courses of study approved
15for at least 30 hours of credit by the board within the 2 calendar years preceding the
16calendar year for which the registration is effective. The board shall promulgate
17rules requiring a physician to complete at least 2 credit hours of continuing education
18programs or courses approved by the board on suicide prevention.
AB526,4 19Section 4. 455.065 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB526,3,820 455.065 (1) Promulgate rules establishing the minimum number of hours of
21continuing education, the topic areas that the continuing education must cover, the

1criteria for the approval of continuing education programs and courses required for
2renewal of a license and the criteria for the approval of the sponsors and cosponsors
3of those continuing education programs and courses. The rules promulgated under
4this subsection shall require each person licensed under s. 455.04 (1) or (4) to
5complete at least 2 hours of continuing education programs or courses on suicide
6prevention to renew the person's license. The rules promulgated under this
7subsection may not count continuing education programs or courses on suicide
8prevention more than continuing education programs or courses on any other topic.
AB526,5 9Section 5. 457.22 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB526,3,1010 457.22 (1) (intro.) The examining board may shall do any all of the following:
AB526,6 11Section 6. 457.22 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB526,3,1612 457.22 (3) The rules promulgated under sub. (1) shall require social workers,
13advanced practice social workers, independent social workers, clinical social
14workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors to complete at
15least 2 hours of continuing education programs or courses of study on suicide
16prevention in order to qualify for renewal.
AB526,3,1717 (End)
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