HBA-MSH H.B. 2944 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2944
By: Capelo
Human Services
3/25/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a person has to hold a master's or doctoral degree in
counseling or a related field to be qualified for a license to engage in
the practice of professional counseling.  A licensee is authorized to
engage in an independent counseling practice and receive insurance and
Medicaid reimbursement.  The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional
Counselors  receives applications from individuals with master's or
doctoral degrees in communications, sociology, music and dance therapy, and
other disciplines that may not provide all of the training a degree in
counseling provides.  House Bill 2944 removes the provision allowing an
applicant to hold a master's or doctoral degree in a related field to be
eligible to receive a professional counselor's license. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2944 amends the Occupations Code to provide that a person hold a
master's or doctoral degree in counseling and not in a related field to be
qualified for a license to engage in the practice of professional
counseling. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.  The Act applies only to a license application filed
with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors on or
after that date.