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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Includes the term "diagnosis" within the definition of the practice of mental health practitioners
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4977
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to clarifying the authorization to practice for mental health practitioners
Purpose
To amend the definitions of these professions to clarify that these individuals are qualified to diagnose within the practice of each profession.
Summary of provisions
The education law is amended from section 8402 to section 8405 to include and define diagnosis within the practices of mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychoanalysis and creative arts therapy.
Justification
In February 2012, The State Education Department's Mental Health practitioner Board released a report noting the need to amend the scopes of the Education Law Article 163 professions to clarify that these individuals are qualified to "diagnose" within the practice of each profession. These professions include mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists and psychoanalysts. The lack of the specific term "diagnosis" in the scope of practices for each of these professions has led some to conclude that these professions may not diagnose in New York. This conclusion does not conform with evidence in both the statute and the implementing regulations that support the professions authority to diagnose.
This bill remedies this problem by adding and defining the authorization to diagnosis within the scope of each of the Article 163 professions.
Legislative history
2013 Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.