MARRIAGE COUNSELORS - H.B. 5259: FLOOR ANALYSIS

House Bill 5259 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Representative Gerald Law

House Committee: Health Policy

Senate Committee: Health Policy and Senior Citizens

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to specify that an individual seeking a license as a marriage and family therapist could fulfill the requirement to obtain direct client contact hours concurrently with completing certain graduate-level course work.

Currently, the Code prescribes several requirements that an applicant must complete for a marriage and family therapist license. These include a requirement that an applicant either: obtain a master's or higher graduate degree from an accredited training program in marriage and family therapy; or obtain a master's or higher graduate degree from an accredited college or university and complete certain graduate-level course work relating to family therapy and studies as specified in the Code. In addition, the applicant must complete at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact hours that are obtained following completion of the required degree in marriage and family therapy from a training program, or completion of the college or university degree and graduate-level course work. The bill specifies that the 1,000 hours of direct client contact could be obtained concurrent with or following the graduate-level course work.

MCL 333.16909 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed: 12-3-97 - Fiscal Analyst: M. Tyszkiewicz

floor\hb5259

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.