88R14057 SHH-F     By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 4075       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the regulation of certain occupations by the Texas   Behavioral Health Executive Council; authorizing fees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 502.252(b) and (c), Occupations Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (b)  To qualify for a license as a licensed marriage and   family therapist associate, a person must:                (1)  be at least 18 years of age;                (2)  have completed a graduate internship in marriage   and family therapy, or an equivalent internship, as approved by the   board [executive council];                (3)  pay the examination fee and pass the license   examination and jurisprudence examination determined by the board;                (4)  hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and   family therapy or in a related mental health field with coursework   and training determined by the executive council to be   substantially equivalent to a graduate degree in marriage and   family therapy from a regionally accredited institution of higher   education or an institution of higher education approved by the   executive council;                (5)  [have not been convicted of a felony or a crime   involving moral turpitude;                [(6)] not use drugs or alcohol to an extent that affects   the applicant's professional competency;                (6) [(7)]  not have had a license or certification   revoked by a licensing agency or by a certifying professional   organization; and                (7) [(8)]  not have engaged in fraud or deceit in   applying for a license under this chapter.          (c)  An applicant is eligible to apply for a license as a   licensed marriage and family therapist if the person:                (1)  meets the requirements of Subsection (b);                (2)  [after receipt of a degree described by Subsection   (b)(4),] has completed [two years of] work experience in marriage   and family therapist services that includes the number of hours [at   least 3,000 hours of clinical practice consisting of at least 1,500   hours of direct clinical services, including a minimum number of   hours] providing [direct] clinical services to individuals,   couples, or families as required by the executive council [rule];   and                (3)  has completed, in a manner acceptable to the   executive council, [at least 200 hours of] supervised provision of   direct clinical services by the applicant for the number of hours as   determined by the executive council, [100 hours of] which must be   supervised by an approved supervisor as prescribed by the executive   council [on an individual basis].          SECTION 2.  Section 502.2545, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 502.2545.  WAIVER OF EXAMINATION FOR CERTAIN   APPLICANTS. (a) The executive council may waive the requirement   that an applicant for a license as a licensed marriage and family   therapist pass the examination required by Section 502.254 if the   applicant[:                [(1) is a provisional license holder under Section   502.259 and the executive council determines that the applicant   possesses sufficient education and professional experience to   receive a license without further examination; or                [(2)] holds a license issued by another licensing   agency in a profession related to the practice of marriage and   family therapy and the executive council determines that the   applicant possesses sufficient education and professional   experience to receive a license without satisfying the examination   requirements of this chapter.          (b)  The executive council may adopt rules necessary to   administer this section, including rules [under Subsection (a)(2)]   prescribing the professions that are related to the practice of   marriage and family therapy.          SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 502.259, Occupations   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 502.259.  APPLICANTS LICENSED OUT OF STATE [PROVISIONAL   LICENSE].          SECTION 4.  Sections 502.259(a) and (b), Occupations Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The executive council may grant a [provisional] license   to practice as a marriage and family therapist in this state   [without examination] to an applicant who is licensed or otherwise   registered as a marriage and family therapist by another state or   jurisdiction [if the requirements to be licensed or registered in   the other state or jurisdiction were, on the date the person was   licensed or registered, substantially equal to the requirements of   this chapter].          (b)  An applicant for a [provisional] license under this   section must:                (1)  be licensed in good standing to independently   practice as a marriage and family therapist in another state or   jurisdiction [that has licensing requirements that are   substantially equal to the requirements of this chapter];                (2)  meet the requirements of Section 502.252(b) [have   passed a national or other examination that:                      [(A)  is recognized by the executive council; and                      [(B)  relates to marriage and family therapy]; and                (3)  file an application with the appropriate fee in   the form and manner prescribed [be sponsored by a person licensed]   by the executive council [with whom the provisional license holder   may practice under this section].          SECTION 5.  Section 502.301(a), Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  A marriage and family therapist license issued under   this chapter is subject to [biennial] renewal.  The executive   council shall adopt a system under which licenses expire on various   dates during the year.          SECTION 6.  Subchapter F, Chapter 507, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 507.260 to read as follows:          Sec. 507.260.  RECIPROCAL LICENSE. The executive council   may enter into and implement agreements with other jurisdictions   for the issuance of a license under Chapter 501, 502, 503, or 505 by   reciprocity if the other jurisdiction's requirements for   licensing, certification, or registration are substantially equal   to the requirements of the applicable chapter.          SECTION 7.  The following provisions are repealed:                (1)  Section 501.262, Occupations Code;                (2)  Section 502.254(b), Occupations Code; and                (3)  Sections 502.259(c), (d), and (e), Occupations   Code.          SECTION 8.  (a)  Chapter 502, Occupations Code, as amended by   this Act, applies only to an application for a license under that   chapter filed with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council on   or after the effective date of this Act.  An application for a   license filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by   the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          (b)  Section 502.301(a), Occupations Code, as amended by   this Act, applies to a license that expires on or after the   effective date of this Act.  A license that expires before that date   is governed by the law in effect on the date the license expired,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.