June 5, 2014
Sunset Review puts Texas LicensingBoards at Risk: Act Today!!
The Texas Sunset Commission staff is recommending in its report on the reauthorization of the Department of State Health Services that the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors as well as the Marriage and Family Therapist and Social Worker licensing boards be reconstituted as advisory committees at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.TCA is asking members to submit brief comments in opposition of this recommendation. Use the following links to access the Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report on DSHS, contact details for Commission members, and info about the Sunset process.
Key Talking Points:
•The Sunset Commission staff recommendation to dismantle the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and create in its place an advisory committee at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is not based on a detailed analysis of its regulatory function. No operational deficiencies at the Board have been identified to support this recommendation.
•Licensed Professional Counselors are health care providers who use clinical skills to diagnose and treat patients. LPCs complete - at a minimum - 6 years of postsecondary education. They must hold at least a Master's degree and complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervision by a certified LPC-Supervisor who must hold a doctorate degree or complete at least 40 contact hours in supervision coursework.
•The difference between regulating boxers and electricians and those who provide clinical health care treatment to mentally ill and emotionally challenged individuals is incomparable. None of the industries regulated by TDLR provide the critical, personal and life-saving interventions that professional counselors do.
•Setting and enforcing clear, ethical training and care standards for mental health professionals can only be accomplished by a professionally specialized and independent licensing board. Oversight of mental health professionals is beyond the scope of TDLR.
•There is no data to support that reducing the structure of the TSBEPC to an advisory committee will improve services, protect the public or increase efficiency in the operation of DSHS or the Board.
•The Sunset Commission staff recommends that the regulation of Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Providers remain at DSHS. Most LSOTP are dually licensed as Licensed Professional Counselors. To separate these regulatory boards at two agencies will increase cost, reduce efficiency and delay investigations.