Bill > HB5289

This bill enacts the Professional Counselors Licensure Compact, which establishes a multistate compact for the licensing and regulation of professional counselors. The key provisions of the bill include: - Facilitating interstate practice of licensed professional counseling by providing for mutual recognition of member state licenses. - Enhancing member states' ability to protect public health and safety, and encouraging cooperation in regulating multistate practice. - Supporting military spouses and the use of telehealth technology to improve access to counseling services. - Establishing the Counseling Compact Commission to administer the compact and adopt binding rules. - Allowing member states to take adverse action against a counselor's privilege to practice in that state, while the home state retains authority over the counselor's license. - Requiring member states to participate in a coordinated data system to share licensing, adverse action, and investigative information. - Providing the commission with rulemaking authority, dispute resolution mechanisms, and enforcement powers. - Specifying the compact will take effect when adopted by 10 member states, and allowing states to withdraw from the compact.