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SF0107 • 2020

Penal institutions-addiction counselor license reciprocity.

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; creating additional types of certifications in the field of addictions therapy as specified; defining eligibility requirements for certifications; limiting a certified person's authority to practice to penal institutions as specified; requiring rulemaking; making a conforming amendment; and providing for effective dates.

Labor
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Bouchard
Last action
2020-03-09
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary text was not provided, so some details were inferred based on the digest and bill text excerpts.

License Reciprocity for Addiction Counselors in Penal Institutions

This act proposes creating new certification types and eligibility requirements for addiction counselors working in penal institutions, allowing them to use their licenses from other states.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes a system of certifications for addiction therapy professionals who work in penal institutions.
  • Defines the criteria an applicant must meet to be eligible for these certifications, including holding a valid license or certification from another state and having at least one year of active practice with that license.
  • Limits the authority of certified individuals to practice only within penal institutions and according to their specific certification level.
  • Requires the mental health professions licensing board to create rules implementing this act by July 1, 2020.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Addiction counselors who want to work in Wyoming's penal institutions with licenses from other states.
  • The mental health professions licensing board responsible for creating and enforcing the new certification requirements.

Terms To Know

Certification
A formal recognition of an individual’s qualifications or competence to perform a specific job or task, in this case, addiction therapy in penal institutions.
Eligibility Requirements
The criteria that must be met by individuals seeking certification under the new system.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act did not pass and therefore has no legal effect.
  • It does not specify what happens if an applicant's license from another state is suspended or revoked while they are certified in Wyoming.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0107HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Barlow

Failed

Plain English: This amendment changes the bill to allow the Department of Corrections to issue authorizations for addiction therapy in penal institutions instead of certifications by a board.

  • Replaces 'certifications' with 'authorizations' throughout the text, changing how individuals are licensed to practice addictions therapy in penal institutions.
  • Adds new provisions that limit these authorizations to specific scopes and conditions, such as requiring current valid licenses from other states and prohibiting issuance to state employees.
  • Includes a sunset clause, which means the section will be repealed on July 1, 2024.
  • The amendment text does not provide details about how authorizations differ from certifications in practice or enforcement.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-09 House

    H COW:Failed 12-46-2-0-0

  2. 2020-03-04 House

    H Placed on General File

  3. 2020-03-04 House

    H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0

  4. 2020-03-02 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary

  5. 2020-02-28 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2020-02-26 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 22-8-0-0-0

  7. 2020-02-25 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2020-02-24 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  9. 2020-02-14 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  10. 2020-02-14 Senate

    S10 - Labor:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  11. 2020-02-12 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S10 - Labor 25-4-1-0-0

  12. 2020-02-11 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  13. 2020-02-10 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0490
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0490
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0107

Penal institutions-addiction counselor license reciprocity.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Bouchard, Nethercott, Rothfuss, Scott and Steinmetz and Representative(s) Blake, Clem, Dayton-Selman, Duncan, Eklund, Hallinan, Laursen, Loucks, Pelkey, Piiparinen and Sweeney

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; creating additional types of certifications in the field of addictions therapy as specified; defining eligibility requirements for certifications; limiting a certified person's authority to practice to penal institutions as specified; requiring rulemaking; making a conforming amendment; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 33
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38
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114 is created to read:

33
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38
‑
114.

Penal institutions; addiction therapy professionals certification requirements.

(a)

The board shall issue a certification for the addiction therapy professionals specified in subsection (b) of this section to any applicant who files an application upon a form and in the manner prescribed by the board, accompanied by the appropriate fee and who furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board that:

(i)

The applicant has reached the age of majority;

(ii)

The applicant holds a current, valid and unencumbered occupational license or certification in another state in the field of addictions therapy;

(iii)

The applicant has held the occupational license or certification in the other state and has engaged in active practice with that license or certification for not less than one (1) year;

(iv)

The licensing authority in the other state required the applicant to pass an examination, or to meet specified standards related to education, training and experience;

(v)

The licensing authority in the other state holds the applicant in good standing;

(vi)

The applicant does not have any felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions that relate adversely to the practice of addictions therapy;

(vii)

No licensing authority in another state has revoked the applicant's occupational license or certification because of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the applicant's work in the occupation;

(viii)

The applicant has not surrendered an occupational license or certification because of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the applicant's work in the occupation in another state; and

(ix)

The applicant does not have a complaint, allegation or investigation relating to unprofessional conduct or an alleged crime that is pending before a licensing authority or court in another state. If the applicant has a complaint, allegation or investigation pending, the board shall not issue or deny a certification to the applicant until the complaint, allegation or investigation is resolved or the applicant otherwise meets the criteria for an occupational license or certification under this act as determined by the board.

(b)

The board shall offer the following addiction therapy certifications under this section:

(i)

A level I certified addiction counselor, to an approved applicant who meets the eligibility requirements specified in subsections (a) and (c) of this section;

(ii)

A level II certified addiction counselor, to an approved applicant who meets the eligibility
requirements specified in subsections (a) and (d) of this section;

(iii)

A certified master addiction counselor, to an approved applicant who meets the eligibility requirements specified in subsections (a) and (e) of this section; or

(iv)

A certified criminal justice addictions professional, to an approved applicant who meets the eligibility requirements specified in subsections (a) and (f) of this section.

(c)

In addition to the requirements imposed under subsection (a) of this section, an applicant seeking a certification as a level I certified addiction counselor shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for receipt of a National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) credential as established by the Association for Addiction Professionals and in place on July 1, 2020.

(d)

In addition to the requirements imposed under subsection (a) of this section, an applicant seeking a certification as a level II certified addiction counselor shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for receipt of a National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II) credential as established by the Association for Addiction Professionals and in place on July 1, 2020.

(e)

In addition to the requirements imposed under subsection (a) of this section, an applicant seeking a certification as a certified master addiction counselor shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for receipt of a Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) credential as established by the Association for Addiction Professionals and in place on July 1, 2020.

(f)

In addition to the requirements imposed under subsection (a) of this section, an applicant seeking a certification as a certified criminal justice addictions professional shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the
board that the occupational license or certification held by the applicant as required under paragraph (a)(ii) of this section was issued by a member board of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium and that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements in place on July 1, 2020 for receipt of a Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP) credential as established by the member board.

(g)

The certifications authorized under this section shall only permit the certificate holder to engage in the practice of addictions therapy in an institution and only and within the appropriate scope of practice consistent with their certificate as defined by rule of the board. For the purposes of this section, "institution" means as defined in W.S. 7
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13
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401(a)(vi), except that it shall not include the Wyoming state hospital.

(h)

The board shall promulgate rules necessary to implement this section.

Section 2.

W.S. 33
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38
‑
102(a)(xiv) is amended to read:

33
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38
‑
102.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(xiv)

"This act" means W.S. 33
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38
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101 through
33
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38
‑
113
33
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38
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114
;

Section 3.

The mental health professions licensing board shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement this act on or before July 1, 2020.

Section 4.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2020.

(b)

Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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