HB 166

Relating to the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy; to amend Section 34-17A-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to further define the practice of marriage and family therapy.

Section 1

Section 34-17A-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§34-17A-3.

As used in this chapter, the following words have the following meanings:

(1) ADVERTISE. The issuing or causing to be distributed any card, sign, or device to any person; or the causing, permitting, or allowing any sign or marking on or in any building, radio or television, transmission or broadcast, or advertising by any media or other means designed to secure public attention.

(2) BOARD. The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy.

(3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST. A person to whom a valid, current license has been issued pursuant to this chapter.

(4) PERSON. Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, political body, or other entity.

(5) PRACTICE OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY. The process of providing professional marriage and family therapy to individuals, couples, and families, either alone or in a group. The practice of marriage and family therapy utilizes established principles that recognize the interrelated nature of the individual problems and dysfunctions in family members in order to diagnose, assess, understand, and treat emotional and mental problems mental and emotional disorders. Marriage and family therapy includes, without being limited to, individual, group, couple, sexual, family, and divorce therapy, and psychotherapy, whether the services are offered directly to the general public or through organizations, either public or private, for a fee or other compensation. Marriage and family therapy is a specialized mode of treatment for the purpose of resolving mental and emotional problems disorders and modifying intrapersonal and interpersonal dysfunctions. The terms "diagnose," "assess" and "treat" as used in this subdivision, when considered in isolation or in conjunction with the rules of the board, shall not be construed to permit the performance of any act which marriage and family therapists are not educated and trained to perform, including, but not limited to, administering and interpreting psychological tests, intellectual, neuropsychological, personality, and projective instruments, admitting persons to hospitals for treatment for the foregoing conditions, treating persons in hospitals without medical supervision, prescribing medicinal drugs, authorizing clinical laboratory procedures or radiological procedures, or use of electroconvulsive therapy. In addition, this definition shall not be construed to permit any person licensed pursuant to this chapter to describe or label any test, report, or procedure as "psychological," or as a "psychological evaluation."

(6) QUALIFIED SUPERVISION. The supervision of clinical services in accordance with standards established by the board. The supervisor shall be recognized by the board as an approved supervisor.

(7) RECOGNIZED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. Any educational institution which grants a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree and which is recognized by the board and by a regional educational accrediting body or a postgraduate training institute accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

(8) USE A TITLE OR DESCRIPTION. To hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery announcements, calling cards, or other instruments of professional identification."

Section 2

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.