SB120 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Bussman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Examiners in Counseling, Board of, continued until October 1, 2016, pursuant to sunset law, with modification to provide for appointment of board members from congressional districts. Secs. 34-8A-4, 34-8A-6 am'd. (2012-20411)

Summary

SB120 keeps the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling operating through October 1, 2016, changes how board members are chosen to require residency across congressional districts, and adds license reinstatement rules.

What This Bill Does

It continues the Board of Examiners in Counseling and modifies its membership rules so seven members (two public citizens, two counselor educators, and three practicing counselors) are appointed with residency requirements across districts and diversity considerations. It sets a nomination and appointment process involving the Governor and the Alabama Counseling Association, including term lengths and vacancy procedures to ensure representation from different groups and districts. It also introduces inactive status, renewal schedules, various fees, and reinstatement options for licenses, including special rules for long-time professionals who lapse.

Who It Affects

• Licensed professional counselors in Alabama (including private-practice counselors) and associate licensed counselors, through renewal requirements, inactive status options, lapse rules, and potential reinstatement provisions.
• Counselor educators, general public citizens, and organizations involved in board appointments (e.g., colleges, the Alabama Counseling Association), who are affected by the board's district residency rules, diversity goals, and the nomination/appointment process.

Key Provisions

• Continuance of the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling until October 1, 2016 under the Alabama Sunset Law.
• Board remains seven members: two general public citizens, two counselor educators, and three practicing counselors, with residency and district distribution requirements (not more than one member from any congressional district at a time; one counselor educator per college; no more than one practitioner from the same setting).
• Appointment process: Executive Committee of the Alabama Counseling Association nominates candidates; the Governor selects from two nominees for a five-year term, with annual nomination cycles and minority representation goals; vacancies filled from ACA-nominated candidates if the Governor delays.
• Active terms and reappointment: initial terms of 1, 2, and 3 years; subsequent appointments for five-year terms; removal for cause; diversity and eligibility provisions.
• Inactive status and license reactivation: licenses can be placed inactive; reactivation procedures to be set by the board.
• Fees and renewals: board sets application, examination, and renewal fees; renewal biennially for licensed professional counselors, with lapse rules and provisions for renewing after lapse; associate licenses have annual renewal rules.
• Reinstatement provisions: special reinstatement option for licensed professionals who lapse within 15 years and have at least eight years in a related field, requiring a $500 fee and 40 hours of continuing education.
• Immediate effectiveness: act becomes law upon governor’s signature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Sunset Law