Source: http://ksag.washburnlaw.edu/opinions/2000/2000-036.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 02:53:57+00:00

Document:
Licensed clinical psychotherapists, licensed clinical marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical professional counselors are considered "qualified mental health professionals" as that term is used in the Care and Treatment Act for Mentally Ill Persons. Cited herein: K.S.A. 59-2901, repealed L. 1996, ch. 67; K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 59-2945; 59-2946; 65-5801; 65-5802, as amended by L. 1999, ch. 117, § 1; 65-6401; 65-6402, as amended by L. 1999, ch. 117, § 18; 74-5361, as amended by L. 1999, ch. 117, § 29; L. 1999, ch. 117.
For purposes of the Care and Treatment Act for Mentally Ill Persons, a "qualified mental health practitioner" is defined in pertinent part as "a licensed masters level psychologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed professional counselor, . . ."(4) The issue thus presented is whether a person licensed at the clinical practice level may be considered a "qualified mental health practitioner" even though the statutory definition references only persons licensed at the initial practice level.
A strict statutory construction would dictate a negative answer to the question posed. Such an approach, utilizing the statutory construction maxim of "expressio unis est exclusio unis,"(5) would, however, reach an absurd result: Persons licensed at the requisite initial level would be recognized as qualified mental health professionals, while persons licensed at the advanced clinical level would not. Since the Legislature is presumed to intend that a statute be given a reasonable construction so as to avoid unreasonable, ridiculous or absurd results,(6) we turn to other principles of statutory construction.
A review of the legislative history does not provide any assistance concerning the purpose of the term "qualified mental health professional" as used in the former Care and Treatment Act for Mentally Ill Persons(15) or in the current Act. However, it seems apparent from the words themselves that the Legislature intended that only persons professionally qualified in the mental health field should be granted authority to take certain actions in relation to the care and treatment of mentally ill persons. To conclude that persons licensed at the initial level are so qualified, but that persons licensed at the clinical level are not, would clearly not avoid an unreasonable result.
Further, we believe that the definition "qualified mental health professional" within the Care and Treatment Act of Mentally Ill Persons should be construed in pari materia with the Master's Level Psychologists Act,(16) the Marriage and Family Therapists Act,(17) and the Professional Counselors Act.(18) To reconcile the latter Acts with the former in a manner that is harmonious and sensible is to understand the initial license level, by which a practitioner is statutorily deemed a qualified mental health professional, to be subsumed into the clinical license level, and thus to understand that a person licensed at the clinical level retains the status of a qualified mental health practitioner. Under an opposite and strict construction, the effect would be to cause a person licensed at the initial level to be ineligible for qualified mental health professional status once that person attained the clinical license level, an effect that would be unreasonable, ridiculous, and absurd, as well as one that defies common sense.
Finally, we find it impossible to conclude that legislative failure to amend the definition of a "qualified mental health professional" to include persons licensed at the clinical level is an indication that they should be excluded. For the sake of clarity, however, we believe remedial legislation would be appropriate.
In conclusion, it is our opinion that licensed clinical psychotherapists, licensed clinical marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical professional counselors should be considered "qualified mental health professionals" as that term is used in the Care and Treatment Act for Mentally Ill Persons.
1. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 59-2945 et seq.
2. Now L. 1999, ch. 117 (effective July 1, 2000).
3. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 65-5802, as amended by L. 1999, ch. 117, § 1(regarding licensed clinical professional counselors); K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 65-6402, as amended by L. 1999, ch. 117, § 18 (regarding licensed clinical marriage and family therapists); K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 74-5361, as amended by L. 1999, ch. 117, § 29 (regarding licensed clinical psychotherapists).
4. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 59-2946(j).
5. The maxim "expressio unis est exclusio alterius" means that the mention or inclusion of one thing implies the exclusion of another. Degollado v. Gallegos, 260 Kan. 169 (1996).
6. State v. Crank, 262 Kan. 449 (1997); Keck v. Cheney, 196 Kan. 535 (1966).
7. Britz v. Williams, 262 Kan. 769 (1997).
8. Tompkins v. Bise, 259 Kan. 39, Syl. ¶ 3 (1996).
10. Callaway v. City of Overland Park, 211 Kan. 646, 650 (1973).
11. Sowers v. Tsamolias, 23 Kan.App.2d 270 (1996).
12. State ex rel., v. City of Overland Park, Kansas, 215 Kan. 700, Syl. ¶ 10 (1974).
13. Stave v. Wilson, 267 Kan. 550 (1999); State v. Pfeifer, 96 Kan. 791 (1915).
14. U.S.D. No. 501 v. Baker, Kansas Supreme Court No. 83,805 (May 26, 2000), citing Board of Leavenworth County Commissioners v. McCraw Fertilizer Service, Inc., 261 Kan. 901, 916 (1997) (the court can draw many contradictory inferences from the Legislature's failure to pass a bill); and Higgins v. Cardinal Manufacturing Co., 188 Kan. 11, 25, cert. denied 368 U.S. 829 (1961) (it is "highly speculative" to conclude Legislature's failure to pass a bill on the subject at hand to be indicative of legislative intent; Legislature may have considered the legislation unnecessary in light of current state law).
15. K.S.A. 59-2901 et seq., repealed L. 1996, ch. 67.
16. K.S.A. 74-5361 et seq., and amendments thereto.
17. K.S.A. 65-6401 et seq., and amendments thereto.
18. K.S.A. 65-5801 et seq., and amendments thereto.

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