Ch. 461

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

by the State, a political subdivision of the State, or an entity that provides alcohol and
drug counseling services under contract with the State or a political subdivision of the
State; and

[(iii)] (II) The person has completed not less than 3 years with a
minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised experience in alcohol and drug abuse counseling
approved by the Board[, 2 years of which shall have been completed after the award of
the bachelor's degree] OR A PROGRAM THAT THE BOARD DETERMINES TO BE
SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT IN SUBJECT MATTER AND EXTENT OF TRAINING.

(3) The Board shall waive the requirements for certification as a certified
supervised counselor-alcohol and drug for any person who has filed a letter of intent with
the Board by July 1, [1997] 1998 if [:

(i) The person holds an associate's degree in health or human services
counseling or has completed a program that the Board determines to be substantially
equivalent in subject matter and extent of training to an associate's degree in health or
human services counseling; or

(ii) The] THE person, AS OF JULY 1, 1997, is certified as a certified
alcoholism counselor [or], certified drug counselor, OR HIGHER, by the Maryland
Addiction Counselor Certification Board, ANOTHER STATE, THE CERTIFICATION
COMMISSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
COUNSELORS, OR THE INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION RECIPROCITY
CONSORTIUM, or is employed in the capacity of an Addiction Counselor II or III, or its
equivalent, OR HIGHER, if the person is employed by the State, a political subdivision of
the State, or an entity that provides alcohol and drug counseling services under contract
with the State or a political subdivision of the State.

Chapter 577 of the Acts of 1996

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding whether
the services are provided within the scope of practice of a certified professional
[counselor-drug and alcohol therapist] COUNSELOR-ALCOHOL AND DRUG, a certified
[counselor-drug and alcohol therapist] ASSOCIATE COUNSELOR-ALCOHOL AND
DRUG, or a certified [associate counselor-drug and alcohol therapist] SUPERVISED
COUNSELOR-ALCOHOL AND DRUG, nothing in this Act may be construed to require a
nonprofit health service plan, insurer, health maintenance organization, or person acting
as a third party administrator to reimburse a certified professional [counselor-drug and
alcohol therapist] COUNSELOR-ALCOHOL AND DRUG, a certified [counselor-drug and
alcohol therapist] SUPERVISED COUNSELOR-ALCOHOL AND DRUG, or a certified
associate [counselor-drug and alcohol therapist] COUNSELOR-ALCOHOL AND DRUG.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October June 1, 1997.

Approved May 8, 1997.

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