Bill > S1382

This bill establishes a new Board of Registration of Licensed Mental Health Counselors within the Bureau of Health Care in the Department of Public Health. The board will consist of nine members, including seven licensed mental health counselors with at least five years of professional experience and two public representatives with no direct affiliation to mental health services. Board members will be appointed by the governor for three-year terms, with provisions for filling vacancies and removing members for specific reasons like neglect of duty or felony conviction. The board will be responsible for administering and enforcing licensing requirements, conducting examinations, issuing licenses, setting continuing education standards, and investigating complaints against licensed mental health counselors. The bill defines the practice of mental health counseling, establishes licensing qualifications, outlines the examination and renewal process, and provides guidelines for license denial, suspension, or revocation. It also creates a legal privilege for communications between licensed mental health counselors and their clients, with specific exceptions for cases involving potential harm, court-ordered examinations, and child welfare proceedings. The bill aims to professionalize and regulate the mental health counseling profession in Massachusetts by creating a comprehensive regulatory framework.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1382