HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3419

CHAPTER 734

(Senate Bill 477)

AN ACT concerning

Professional Counselors - Certification

FOR the purpose of creating a Board of Examiners of Professional
Counselors to regulate the provision of professional
counseling services within this State; defining certain
terms; providing for members and terms of the Board;
providing for examinations and qualifications for
certification of professional counselors; establishing
hearing procedures and penalties; establishing powers and
duties of the Board; providing for certification, term, and
renewals; providing for qualifications and examinations;
providing for confidentiality of certain communications;
providing for a code of ethics; making certain
representations illegal by a person who is not certified
under this Act; providing for penalties; providing for the
jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
to include the Board; providing for a legislative review
under the Maryland Program Evaluation Act of the provisions
of law and the rules and regulations that relate to the
Board by a certain date; making provisions of this Act
severable; providing for a certain effective date; providing
that this Act is not intended to provide any mandated
reimbursement for professional counselors merely because of
their certification; and generally relating to the
certification and regulation of professional counseling
services within the State.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 354Z, 470U, and 477AA

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Health Occupations

Section 15.5-101 through 15.5-502, inclusive, to be under
the new title "Title 15.5. Professional Counselors"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1981 Volume and 1984 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,