HB61 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy Davis

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

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

HB61 would expressly allow marriage and family therapists to diagnose mental and emotional disorders and would remove some existing limits on their practice.

What This Bill Does

It adds diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders to the defined duties of marriage and family therapists. It broadens the practice by removing certain unspecified limitations. It also retains safeguards that therapists must be properly trained for the acts they perform, avoiding medical procedures or treatments beyond their scope.

Who It Affects

• Licensed marriage and family therapists in Alabama, who would gain explicit authority to diagnose mental and emotional disorders as part of their practice.
• Clients and patients seeking mental health services, who may receive diagnoses from marriage and family therapists as part of therapy.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 34-17A-3 to define the practice of marriage and family therapy as including the diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders.
• Deletes certain limitations on the practice of marriage and family therapy (specific limitations removed are not enumerated in the provided text).

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