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2013 SESSION

13103499D
HOUSE BILL NO. 2177
Offered January 9, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3503 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Counseling; qualifications.
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Patrons-- Carr, Bell, Richard P., Dance and Spruill
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 54.1-3503 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 54.1-3503. Board of Counseling.

The Board of Counseling shall regulate the practice of counseling, substance abuse treatment, and marriage and family therapy.

The Board shall consist of fourteen 14 members. Twelve shall be professionals licensed in Virginia, who shall represent the various specialties recognized in the profession, and two shall be citizen members. Of the twelve 12 professional members, eight six shall be professional counselors, two three shall be marriage and family therapists, and two three shall be licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners. The professional members of the Board shall include two full-time faculty members engaged in teaching counseling, substance abuse treatment or marriage and family therapy in an accredited college or university in this Commonwealth, and two professional counselors engaged in full-time private practice. However, the marriage and family therapists initially appointed to the Board shall not be required to be licensed, shall not be licensed by another board in the Department of Health Professions, and shall be clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners initially appointed to the Board shall not be required to be licensed, shall not be licensed by another board in the Department of Health Professions, shall be active members of the Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors and shall have a master's degree in substance abuse or a substantially equivalent master's degree.  At least two members representing each specialty shall have been in active practice for at least four years.

The terms of the members of the Board shall be four years.

2. Nothing in this act shall affect the term of any member appointed to the Board of Counseling prior to July 1, 2013.