Licensed professional clinical counselors.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of marriage and family therapists and clinical social workers by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Under existing law, the board consists of 11 members. This bill would provide for the licensure, registration, and regulation of licensed professional clinical counselors and interns by the board and would add 2 additional members to the board, to be appointed by the Governor, as specified. The bill would enact various provisions concerning the practice of licensed professional clinical counselors, interns, and clinical counselor trainees, including, but not limited to, practice requirements and enforcement specifications. The bill would authorize the board to begin accepting applications for intern registration on January 1, 2011, and for licensure examination eligibility on January 1, 2012, but would authorize the board to issue licenses to individuals meeting certain criteria who apply between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2011. The bill would authorize the board to impose specified fees on licensed professional clinical counselors and interns, which would be deposited in the Behavioral Sciences Fund to carry out the provisions of the bill. The bill would require that the startup costs of the program be funded by a loan from the Behavioral Sciences Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would provide that a violation of its provisions is a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.