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H1187 • 2025

An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors

An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
James K. Hawkins
Last action
2026-01-23
Official status
Accompanied a new draft, see H4942
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors

An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1187) of James K.
  • Hawkins relative to the definition of licensed mental health professionals under certain insurance laws.
  • Financial Services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-23 House

    Accompanied a new draft, see H4942

  2. 2025-09-26 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/08/2025 from 10:30 AM-02:30 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Financial Services

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors
By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1187) of James K. Hawkins relative to the definition of licensed mental health professionals under certain insurance laws. Financial Services.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1187

SECTION 1. Section 22 of chapter 32A of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, a licensed marriage and family therapist or a licensed rehabilitation counselor within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 2.

Section 47B of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 2 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 3.

Section 8A of chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 4 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 4.

Section 4A of 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 6 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

SECTION 5.

Section 4M of 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to last paragraph, as most recently amended by section 10 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

For the purposes of this section, "licensed mental health professional" shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed rehabilitation counselor within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.

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