(2) The renewal dates for certificates and licenses granted under this chapter subchapter, other than training certificates and licenses or temporary certificates or licenses, are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a).
55,69Section 69. 457.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: 457.24 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a person licensed as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor under this chapter subchapter or who is exercising the professional counselor privilege to practice in this state may not practice clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, or professional counseling unless he or she has in effect professional liability insurance. The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing the minimum amount of insurance required under this subsection.
55,70Section 70. 457.26 (1) and (2) (intro.) and (h) of the statutes are amended to read: 457.26 (1) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the appropriate section of the examining board may make investigations and conduct hearings to determine whether a violation of this chapter subchapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter subchapter has occurred.
(2) (intro.) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the appropriate section of the examining board may reprimand a credential holder or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke a credential under this chapter subchapter if it finds that the applicant or credential holder has done any of the following:
(h) Violated this chapter subchapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter subchapter.
55,71Section 71. Subchapter II of chapter 457 [precedes 457.50] of the statutes is created to read: CHAPTER 457
SUBCHAPTER II
COUNSELING COMPACT
457.50 Counseling compact. (1) Purpose. The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. The practice of professional counseling occurs in the state where the client is located at the time of the counseling services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. This compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:
(a) Increase public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses;
(b) Enhance the states’ ability to protect the public’s health and safety;
(c) Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice for licensed professional counselors;
(d) Support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel;
(e) Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information among member states;
(f) Allow for the use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased access to professional counseling services;
(g) Support the uniformity of professional counseling licensure requirements throughout the states to promote public safety and public health benefits;
(h) Invest all member states with the authority to hold a licensed professional counselor accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the client is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of member state licenses;
(i) Eliminate the necessity for licenses in multiple states; and
(j) Provide opportunities for interstate practice by licensed professional counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements.
(2) Definitions. As used in this section, and except as otherwise provided, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Active duty military” means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the national guard and reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 USC chs. 1209 and 1211.
(b) “Adverse action” means any administrative, civil, equitable or criminal action permitted by a state’s laws which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a licensed professional counselor, including actions against an individual’s license or privilege to practice such as revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee’s practice, or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting a licensed professional counselor’s authorization to practice, including issuance of a cease and desist action.
(c) “Alternative program” means a nondisciplinary monitoring or practice remediation process approved by a professional counseling licensing board to address impaired practitioners.
(d) “Continuing competence/education” means a requirement, as a condition of license renewal, to provide evidence of participation in, and/or completion of, educational and professional activities relevant to practice or area of work.
(e) “Counseling compact commission” or “commission” means the national administrative body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted the compact.
(f) “Current significant investigative information” means any of the following: