HBA-NMO H.B. 1336 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1336
By: Flores
Public Health
2/25/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires marriage and family therapists, in order to qualify
for licensure after receiving their graduate degree, to have at least two
supervised years of work experience in marriage and family therapist
services, including at least 1000 hours of  clinical practice, of which at
least 200 must be supervised in an acceptable manner.  However, many health
maintenance organizations require 3000 supervised clinical hours for
therapists to qualify to be included on their provider panels.  This may
limit a marriage and family therapist's ability to be selected as a
provider for insurance plans.  In addition, some clients may not be able to
distinguish between a marriage and family therapy intern who is still in
graduate school and an intern who has graduated, but is still under
supervised clinical practice.  H.B. 1336 increases the number of hours of
clinical practice required to qualify for licensure to 3000.  This bill
also creates the "marriage and family therapist associate" licensing
designation.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S. (Licensed Marriage
and Family Therapist Act), by adding Subdivision (6), as follows: 

(6) Defines "licensed marriage and family therapist associate" as an
individual who offers to provide marriage and family therapy for
compensation under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family
therapist. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 15(b), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to prohibit a
person who is not licensed under this Act from using the title "Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate." 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 17, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to provide that
an application for a license be accompanied by the appropriate application
fee, rather than the application fee. Provides that a person is eligible to
apply for a license if the person, in two years of work experience in
marriage and family therapist services, has at least 3,000 hours of
clinical practice, including 1,500, rather than 1,000, hours  consisting of
direct clinical services to individuals, couples, or families; and at least
750, rather than 500, hours consisting of direct clinical services to
couples or families. Provides that an applicant for a license as a licensed
marriage and family therapist associate or licensed marriage and family
therapist must pass an examination determined by the board or be exempt
from the examination.  Redesignates existing Subsection (c) to Subsection
(d).  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 18, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the
Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (board) to
notify each applicant whether the application has been accepted or rejected
not later than the 90th day after the date of receipt of the completed
application, in addition to not later than the 30th day before the date of
the examination. Provides that an applicant is eligible to take the
examination if the applicant is enrolled in a graduate internship in
marriage and family therapy, or equivalent, as approved by the board; and
if the  applicant provides proof to the board that the applicant is a
student in good standing.  Redesignates existing Subsections  (c)-(e) to
Subsections (d)-(f), respectively.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 20(a), Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S., to require the
board to issue a license as a licensed marriage and family therapist or
licensed marriage and family therapist associate, as appropriate, rather
than an appropriate license, to an individual who possesses the necessary
requirements, passes the licensing examination, unless exempted from the
examination requirement by the board, and pays the required fees. 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.  
            Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 7.  Emergency clause.