HB366 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy Davis

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Marriage and Family Therapy Board, practice of marriage and family therapy further defined to include diagnosis of mental and emotional problems, certain limitations deleted, Sec. 34-17A-3 am'd.

Summary

HB366 would explicitly allow marriage and family therapists to diagnose mental and emotional disorders and remove certain existing limitations on their practice.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would redefine the practice of marriage and family therapy to include diagnosing mental and emotional disorders. It would delete some restrictions on what therapists can do, potentially broadening their scope of practice. The bill also continues to define key terms and maintain board oversight and professional boundaries for practice.

Who It Affects

• Licensed marriage and family therapists in Alabama, who would gain explicit authority to diagnose mental and emotional disorders and may face new scope changes.
• Clients seeking diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional problems from marriage and family therapists, who could receive diagnostic services from MFTs that were not explicitly included before.

Key Provisions

• Explicitly includes the use of diagnostic principles to diagnose mental and emotional disorders within the practice of marriage and family therapy.
• Deletes certain limitations on the practice of marriage and family therapy (specific limitations are not detailed in the provided text).
• Maintains definitions and regulatory framework for the Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy and related terms, with scope adjustments subject to board standards.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marriage and Family Therapy, Board of Examiners in