News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Senate Passes Licensed Professional Counselor Bill

Adds Protections for Professional Counselors and Their Clients

For Immediate Release: April 29, 1998 Contact: Senator Gary Wilken at (907) 465-3709.

Juneau – The Senate Wednesday unanimously passed the Licensed Professional Counselor bill to establish a board that would license and regulate experienced Masters and Doctoral level professional counselors. Senate Bill 331, sponsored by the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee (HESS), will require a fee from Licensed Professional Counselors to cover the cost of the board and the licensing process.

"SB 331 provides protections for Alaska's consumers who want assurances that the counselors they go to are reputable, well-trained, ethical and will keep their communications confidential," said Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman of the Senate HESS Committee. "The bill will also benefit the counselors. Today, without the opportunity to license themselves, many counselors risk losing jobs or clients in a climate that demands licensure for behavioral health service providers."

According to Wilken, SB 331 will not bar professional counselors who are already practicing without a license and who wish to continue doing so, from continuing their practice within the State of Alaska.

SB 331 provides Alaskan consumers with the following benefits:

• Enables consumers to identify competent counselors who have met standards of quality established by the Legislature and the board;
• Institutes grievance procedures and legal recourse for clients of Licensed Professional Counselors who believe they are victims of fraudulent, unethical or negligent practices;

SB 331 provides counselors with the following benefits:

• Puts professional counselors on par with other professionals in the behavioral health field;
• Opens doors to employee assistance programs that currently require service providers have a license to qualify for their program;
• Increases job security and enhances employment opportunities for professional counselors who wish to practice beyond the scope of a private practice.

Currently, Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psychologists or Psychological Associates are licensed. SB 331 will extend that list by licensing all other professional counselors whose education and experience do not fall within these existing behavioral health specializations.

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