Advanced Alcohol and Drug Licensing Act.

Existing law provides for the registration, certification, and licensure of various healing arts professionals. Existing law provides for various programs to eliminate alcohol and drug abuse, and states the finding of the Legislature that state government has an affirmative role in alleviating problems related to the inappropriate use of alcoholic beverages and other drug use. This bill would establish licensure and registration provisions relating to advanced alcohol and drug counselors and advanced alcohol and drug counselor interns, respectively, to be administered by the newly created Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Licensing Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The bill would authorize the board to commence issuing these licenses and registrations on January 1, 2018. The bill would make it a misdemeanor for a person to style himself or herself or to hold himself or herself out to be a licensed advanced alcohol and drug counselor or advanced alcohol and drug counselor intern, without holding a license or registration in good standing under these provisions. The bill would also make it unlawful for a person to operate an individual private practice for alcohol and drug treatment or engage in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling outside of an alcohol and drug treatment facility or program, or DUI program, unless at the time of so doing, the person holds a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked license or registration under these provisions. The bill would require a licensed alcohol and drug counselor working in a private practice setting to refer all clients to prescribed professionals, within 30 days of intake, to assess any co-occurring needs or disorders. Because the bill would create a new crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would authorize the board to assess related fees and penalties to be deposited into the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors License Fund available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the board for the purposes of supporting licensing and registration activities pursuant to these provisions. The bill would set various licensing and registration fees, until the board establishes different fees by regulation, as specified. 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.