Resolve, Directing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation To Amend Its Rules Governing Pastoral Counselors
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0012
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SCHATZ, DAMON, BERRY, EATON

Legislative Document 
No. 12 
H.P.7 
House of Representatives, January 5,2009 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation To Amend Its Rules Governing Pastoral Counselors 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
71/~ In· 7l!C!£~~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative SCHATZ of Blue Hill. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock and 
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, EATON of Sullivan. 
Primt:u lll1 n:cych:d pLlpcr 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order for decisions regarding licensing of pastoral counselors to be made in a 
timely fashion; and 
Whereas, in the judgment ofthe Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of 
Licensing and Registration, Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure to 
amend rules. 
Resolved: 
That the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Counseling Professionals 
Licensure shall amend its rules governing licensed pastoral counselors to provide that the 
requirement for 400 contact hours in clinical pastoral education in a program accredited 
by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education be changed to a requirement for 400 
contact hours in clinical pastoral education in a program accredited by the Association for 
Clinical Pastoral Education or an equivalent organization. 
Rulemaking undet1aken 
pursuant to this resolve is routine technical rulemaking as described in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Application. Resolved: 
That the rules as amended pursuant to this 
resolve apply to an application for a license as a pastoral counselor filed on or after July 
1,2007. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office 
of Licensing and Registration, Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure to amend its 
rules governing licensed pastoral counselors to provide that the requirement for 400 
contact hours in clinical pastoral education in a program accredited by the Association for 
Clinical Pastoral Education be changed to a requirement for 400 contact hours in clinical 
pastoral education in a program accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral 
Education or an equivalent organization. The rules as amended pursuant to this resolve 
apply to an application filed on or after July 1, 2007. 
Page I - 124LR0227(OI)-1 
) 
) 
)