AB207: Bill Text

AB207,,285 (b) The privilege to practice is valid until the expiration date of the home state license. The licensee must comply with the requirements of par. (a) to maintain the privilege to practice in the remote state.

AB207,,286 (c) A licensee providing professional counseling in a remote state under the privilege to practice shall adhere to the laws and regulations of the remote state.

AB207,,287 (d) A licensee providing professional counseling services in a remote state is subject to that state’s regulatory authority. A remote state may, in accordance with due process and that state’s laws, remove a licensee’s privilege to practice in the remote state for a specific period of time, impose fines, and/or take any other necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its citizens. The licensee may be ineligible for a privilege to practice in any member state until the specific time for removal has passed and all fines are paid.

AB207,,288 (e) If a home state license is encumbered, the licensee shall lose the privilege to practice in any remote state until the following occur:

AB207,,289 1. The home state license is no longer encumbered; and

AB207,,290 2. Have not had any encumbrance or restriction against any license or privilege to practice within the previous 2 years.

AB207,,291 (f) Once an encumbered license in the home state is restored to good standing, the licensee must meet the requirements of par. (a) to obtain a privilege to practice in any remote state.

AB207,,292 (g) If a licensee’s privilege to practice in any remote state is removed, the individual may lose the privilege to practice in all other remote states until the following occur:

AB207,,293 1. The specific period of time for which the privilege to practice was removed has ended;

AB207,,294 2. All fines have been paid; and

AB207,,295 3. Have not had any encumbrance or restriction against any license or privilege to practice within the previous 2 years.

AB207,,296 (h) Once the requirements of par. (g) have been met, the licensee must meet the requirements in par. (a) to obtain a privilege to practice in a remote state.

AB207,,297 (5) Obtaining a new home state license based on a privilege to practice. (a) A licensed professional counselor may hold a home state license, which allows for a privilege to practice in other member states, in only one member state at a time.

AB207,,298 (b) If a licensed professional counselor changes primary state of residence by moving between two member states:

AB207,,299 1. The licensed professional counselor shall file an application for obtaining a new home state license based on a privilege to practice, pay all applicable fees, and notify the current and new home state in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the commission.

AB207,,300 2. Upon receipt of an application for obtaining a new home state license by virtue of a privilege to practice, the new home state shall verify that the licensed professional counselor meets the pertinent criteria outlined in sub. (4) via the data system, without need for primary source verification except for:

AB207,,301 a. A federal bureau of investigation fingerprint based criminal background check if not previously performed or updated pursuant to applicable rules adopted by the commission in accordance with P. L. 92-544;

AB207,,302 b. Other criminal background check as required by the new home state; and

AB207,,303 c. Completion of any requisite jurisprudence requirements of the new home state.

AB207,,304 3. The former home state shall convert the former home state license into a privilege to practice once the new home state has activated the new home state license in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the commission.

AB207,,305 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this compact, if the licensed professional counselor cannot meet the criteria in sub. (4), the new home state may apply its requirements for issuing a new single state license.

AB207,,306 5. The licensed professional counselor shall pay all applicable fees to the new home state in order to be issued a new home state license.

AB207,,307 (c) If a licensed professional counselor changes primary state of residence by moving from a member state to a non-member state, or from a non-member state to a member state, the state criteria shall apply for issuance of a single state license in the new state.

AB207,,308 (d) Nothing in this compact shall interfere with a licensee’s ability to hold a single state license in multiple states, however for the purposes of this compact, a licensee shall have only one home state license.

AB207,,309 (e) Nothing in this compact shall affect the requirements established by a member state for the issuance of a single state license.

AB207,,310 (6) Active duty military personnel or their spouses. Active duty military personnel, or their spouse, shall designate a home state where the individual has a current license in good standing. The individual may retain the home state designation during the period the service member is on active duty. Subsequent to designating a home state, the individual shall only change their home state through application for licensure in the new state, or through the process outlined in sub. (5).

AB207,,311 (7) Compact privilege to practice telehealth. (a) Member states shall recognize the right of a licensed professional counselor, licensed by a home state in accordance with sub. (3) and under rules promulgated by the commission, to practice professional counseling in any member state via telehealth under a privilege to practice as provided in the compact and rules promulgated by the commission.

AB207,,312 (b) A licensee providing professional counseling services in a remote state under the privilege to practice shall adhere to the laws and regulations of the remote state.

AB207,,313 (8) Adverse actions. (a) In addition to the other powers conferred by state law, a remote state shall have the authority, in accordance with existing state due process law, to:

AB207,,314 1. Take adverse action against a licensed professional counselor’s privilege to practice within that member state; and

AB207,,315 2. Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses as well as the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a licensing board in a member state for the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of evidence from another member state shall be enforced in the latter state by any court of competent jurisdiction, according to the practice and procedure of that court applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings pending before it. The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage, and other fees required by the service statutes of the state in which the witnesses or evidence are located.

AB207,,316 3. Only the home state shall have the power to take adverse action against a licensed professional counselor’s license issued by the home state.

AB207,,317 (b) For purposes of taking adverse action, the home state shall give the same priority and effect to reported conduct received from a member state as it would if the conduct had occurred within the home state. In so doing, the home state shall apply its own state laws to determine appropriate action.

AB207,,318 (c) The home state shall complete any pending investigations of a licensed professional counselor who changes primary state of residence during the course of the investigations. The home state shall also have the authority to take appropriate action(s) and shall promptly report the conclusions of the investigations to the administrator of the data system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the new home state of any adverse actions.

AB207,,319 (d) A member state, if otherwise permitted by state law, may recover from the affected licensed professional counselor the costs of investigations and dispositions of cases resulting from any adverse action taken against that licensed professional counselor.

AB207,,320 (e) A member state may take adverse action based on the factual findings of the remote state, provided that the member state follows its own procedures for taking the adverse action.

AB207,,321 (f) Joint investigations:

AB207,,322 1. In addition to the authority granted to a member state by its respective professional counseling practice act or other applicable state law, any member state may participate with other member states in joint investigations of licensees.

AB207,,323 2. Member states shall share any investigative, litigation, or compliance materials in furtherance of any joint or individual investigation initiated under the compact.

AB207,,324 (g) If adverse action is taken by the home state against the license of a licensed professional counselor, the licensed professional counselor’s privilege to practice in all other member states shall be deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the state license. All home state disciplinary orders that impose adverse action against the license of a licensed professional counselor shall include a statement that the licensed professional counselor’s privilege to practice is deactivated in all member states during the pendency of the order.

AB207,,325 (h) If a member state takes adverse action, it shall promptly notify the administrator of the data system. The administrator of the data system shall promptly notify the home state of any adverse actions by remote states.

AB207,,326 (i) Nothing in this compact shall override a member state’s decision that participation in an alternative program may be used in lieu of adverse action.

AB207,,327 (9) Establishment of counseling compact commission. (a) The compact member states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the counseling compact commission:

AB207,,328 1. The commission is an instrumentality of the compact states.

AB207,,329 2. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the commission is located. The commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

AB207,,330 3. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity.

AB207,,331 (b) Membership, voting, and meetings. 1. Each member state shall have and be limited to one delegate selected by that member state’s licensing board.

AB207,,332 2. The delegate shall be either:

AB207,,333 a. A current member of the licensing board at the time of appointment, who is a licensed professional counselor or public member; or

AB207,,334 b. An administrator of the licensing board.

AB207,,335 3. Any delegate may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which the delegate is appointed.

AB207,,336 4. The member state licensing board shall fill any vacancy occurring on the commission within 60 days.

AB207,,337 5. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote with regard to the promulgation of rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the commission.

AB207,,338 6. A delegate shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates’ participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.

AB207,,339 7. The commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws.

AB207,,340 8. The commission shall by rule establish a term of office for delegates and may by rule establish term limits.

AB207,,341 (c) The commission shall have the following powers and duties:

AB207,,342 1. Establish the fiscal year of the commission;

AB207,,343 2. Establish bylaws;

AB207,,344 3. Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws;

AB207,,345 4. Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this compact and the bylaws;

AB207,,346 5. Promulgate rules which shall be binding to the extent and in the manner provided for in the compact;

AB207,,347 6. Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the commission, provided that the standing of any state licensing board to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;

AB207,,348 7. Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;

AB207,,349 8. Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a member state;

AB207,,350 9. Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the compact, and establish the commission’s personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters;

AB207,,351 10. Accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety and/or conflict of interest;

AB207,,352 11. Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all times the commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety;

AB207,,353 12. Sell convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property real, personal, or mixed;

AB207,,354 13. Establish a budget and make expenditures;

AB207,,355 14. Borrow money;

AB207,,356 15. Appoint committees, including standing committees composed of members, state regulators, state legislators or their representatives, and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in this compact and the bylaws;

AB207,,357 16. Provide and receive information from, and cooperate with, law enforcement agencies;

AB207,,358 17. Establish and elect an executive committee; and

AB207,,359 18. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact consistent with the state regulation of professional counseling licensure and practice.

AB207,,360 (d) The executive committee. 1. The executive committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the commission according to the terms of this compact.

AB207,,361 2. The executive committee shall be composed of up to 11 members:

AB207,,362 a. Seven voting members who are elected by the commission from the current membership of the commission; and

AB207,,363 b. Up to 4 ex officio, nonvoting members from 4 recognized national professional counselor organizations.

AB207,,364 c. The ex officio members will be selected by their respective organizations.

AB207,,365 3. The commission may remove any member of the executive committee as provided in bylaws.

AB207,,366 4. The executive committee shall meet at least annually.

AB207,,367 5. The executive committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

AB207,,368 a. Recommend to the entire commission changes to the rules or bylaws, changes to this compact legislation, fees paid by compact member states such as annual dues, and any commission compact fee charged to licensees for the privilege to practice;

AB207,,369 b. Ensure compact administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise;

AB207,,370 c. Prepare and recommend the budget;

AB207,,371 d. Maintain financial records on behalf of the commission;

AB207,,372 e. Monitor compact compliance of member states and provide compliance reports to the commission;

AB207,,373 f. Establish additional committees as necessary; and