An Act To Improve Professional Training for Licensed Mental Health Clinicians
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1238
Committee Amendment CA_A_S254 (Senate)
Amends: 32 MRSA §3835, 32 MRSA §7053, 32 MRSA §70, 32 MRSA §13858, 32 MRSA §13860

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 432, L.D. 1238, Bill, "An Act To 
Improve Professional Training for Licensed Mental Health Clinicians" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 32 MRS A §3831, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. Q, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
2. Psychologist. A candidate for this license shall furnish the board with satisfactory 
evidence that the candidate is Itrustworthy and competent to practice as a psychologist in 
such manner as to safeguard the interest of the public; has received a doctorate degree 
reflecting comprehensive training in psychology from an accredited institution 
recognized by the board as maintaining satisfactory standards, at the time the degree was 
granted; has had at least 2 years of experience in psychology of a type considered by the 
board to be qualifying in nature; is competent in psychology, as shown by passing such 
examinations as the board determines necessary; is not considered by the board to be 
engaged in unethical practice; and has not within the preceding 6 months failed an 
examination. The board shall recognize that valid comprehensive training in psychology 
must be received in or accepted by a single program, but may be obtained through a 
degree given by administrativ(~ units other than a department of psychology, including 
programs approved by the National Association of School Psychologists or the American 
Psychological Association designation program or their successors or other organizations 
approved by the board. The board shall adopt a list of these programs. Individuals with 
degrees from programs not on that list must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 
Beginning January 1, 2020, a candidate for initial licensure shall furnish the board with 
satisfactory evidence that the candidate has successfully completed a minimum of 3 hours 
of course work in family or intimate partner violence screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics. 
A candidate may 
fulfill this requirement through course work taken in fulfillment of other educational 
requirements for licensure or through separate course work provided through any 
COMMI'TTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fA.." to S.P. 432, L.D. 1238 
combination of contact hours, Internet hours and distance learning programs, as 
evidenced by certification from an accredited educational institution. The board shall 
accept certification from the accredited educational institution from which the applicant is 
a graduate that verifies the applicant's satisfaction of this requirement within the 
applicant's completed course curriculum. A candidate for initial licensure that is unable 
to demonstrate completion of the requirement of 3 hours of course work at the time the 
initial application is submitted shall demonstrate to the board that this requirement has 
been fulfilled upon the candidate's first application for license renewal. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §3835, first~, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. Q, §11, is 
further amended to read: 
Licenses issued under this chapter expire biennially or as established by the 
Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation. A person licensed under this 
chapter shall submit, on or before the established expiration date, an application for 
license renewal together with the renewal fee as set under section 3833-A. Beginning 
January 1. 2020, a person that submits an application for license renewal shall 
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board a one-time successful completion of a 
minimum of 3 contact hours of course work in family or intimate partner violence 
screening and referral and intervention strategies. including knowledge of community 
resources, cultural factors. evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse 
dynamics. 
The board may accept equivalent courses in spousal or partner abuse 
screening and referral and intervention strategies or equivalent teaching or practice 
experience completed prior to January 1. 2020 in satisfaction of this requirement. 
Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this paragraph may be used to satisfy the 
licensee's required hours of continuing education. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §7053, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1987, c. 735, §69, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Licensed clinical social worker. To be qualified as a licensed clinical social 
worker, an applicant shall have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board adherence to 
the ethics of the social work profession; shall have successfully completed the 
examination prescribed by the board; and shall have received either: 
A. A masters master's or doctoral degree in social work or social welfare from an 
accredited educational institution, in a clinical concentration and: 
(1) Shall have subsequently completed 2 years of social work experience with 96 
hours of consultation in a clinical setting; or 
(2) Shall have demonstrated 2 years of full-time clinical social work experience 
or its equivalent and have completed the graduate degree prior to January 1, 
1987, and have completed 2 years of subsequent social work experience with 96 
hours of consultation in a private setting; or 
B. 
A masters master's or doctoral degree in social work in a nonclinical 
concentration from an accredited educational institution and: 
(1) Shall have subsequently completed 4 years of social work experience with 
hours of consultation in a clinical setting; or 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 432, L.D. 1238 
(2) Shall have demonstrated 2 years of full-time clinical social work experience 
or its equivalent and have completed the graduate degree prior to January 1, 
1987, and have completed 4 years of subsequent social work experience with 192 
hours of consultation in a private setting. 
The board may waive up to one year of the post-master of social work, clinical 
experience requirement pursuant to this subsection for those candidates who demonstrate 
to the satisfaction of the board equivalent clinical experience prior to receiving the 
masters master's degree in social work. 
The board shall issue rules, in accordance with tHe Maine AdministratiJie Procedure Act, 
Title 5, chapter 375, defining the clinical experience required for this level oflicensure. 
Beginning January 1, 2020, an applicant for initial licensure shall demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of the board successful completion of a minimum of 12 hours of course work 
in family or intimate partner violence. including course work in spousal or partner abuse 
that addresses screening, referral and intervention strategies, including knowledge of 
community resources. cultural factors. evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender 
abuse dynamics. An applicant may fulfill this requirement through course work taken in 
fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or through separate course 
work provided through contac:t hours, Internet hours or distance learning programs, as 
evidenced by certification from an accredited educational institution. The board shall 
accept certification from the accredited educational institution from which the applicant is 
a graduate that verifies the applicant's satisfaction of this requirement within the 
applicant's completed course curriculum. An applicant for initial licensure that is unable 
to demonstrate completion of the requirement of 12 hours of course work at the time the 
initial application is submitted shall demonstrate to the board that this requirement has 
been fulfilled upon the applicant's first application for license renewal. 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §70tiO, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. Y, §15, is further 
amended by adding after the first paragraph a new paragraph to read: 
Beginning January 1, 2020, an applicant for license renewal shall demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of the board a one-time successful completion of a minimum of 12 hours of 
course work in family or intimate partner violence, including course work in spousal or 
partner abuse that addresses screening, referral and intervention strategies, including 
knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, evidence-based risk assessment and 
same-gender abuse dynamics. An applicant may fulfill this requirement through course 
work provided through contact hours, Internet hours or distance learning programs, as 
evidenced by certification from an accredited educational institution or equivalent 
teaching or practice experienc1::!. The board may accept equivalent courses in family or 
intimate partner violence screening and referral and intervention strategies or equivalent 
teaching or practice experienc~~ completed prior to January 1, 2020 in satisfaction of this 
requirement. Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this paragraph may be used 
to satisfy the licensee's required hours of continuing education. 
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §13858, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 542, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
2. Licensed clinical prof,essional counselor. To be qualified as a licensed clinical 
professional counselor, an applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 432, L.D. 1238 
adherence to the ethics of the counseling profession, successfully complete the 
examination prescribed by the board and have: 
A. A master's degree or a doctoral degree in counseling or an allied mental health 
field from an accredited institution or a program approved by the board. 
Such 
schooling must include a minimum core curriculum and total credit hours as adopted 
by the board; ana 
B. Two years of experience after obtainment of a master's degree or a doctoral 
degree to include at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience with a 
minimum of 100 hours of personal supervision,:,; and 
C. 
Beginning January 1, 2020, demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board 
successful completion of a minimum of 12 hours of course work in family or intimate 
partner violence, including course work in spousal or partner abuse that addresses 
screening, referral and intervention strategies, including knowledge of community 
resources, cultural factors, evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse 
dynamics. An applicant may fulfill this requirement through course work taken in 
fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or through separate course 
work provided through contact hours, Internet hours or distance learning programs, as 
evidenced by certification from an accredited educational institution. The board shall 
accept certification from the accredited educational institution from which the 
applicant is a graduate that verifies the applicant's satisfaction of this requirement 
within the applicant's completed course curriculum. An applicant for initial licensure 
that is unable to demonstrate completion of the requirements of this paragraph at the 
time the initial application is submitted shall demonstrate to the board that these 
requirements have been fulfilled upon the applicant's first application for license 
renewal. 
Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §13860, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 128, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
2. 
Continuing education and supervision. The board, by rule, may establish 
continuing education and supervision requirements. Applicants for license renewal ef 
lieease must show proof of satisfying the continuing education requirements set forth by 
the board. If a license lapses due to failure of the licensee to meet continuing education 
requirements, the licensee may renew the license upon completion of the required 
continuing education. Beginning January 1, 2020, applicants for license renewal shall 
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board a one-time successful completion of a 
minimum of 12 hours of course work in family or intimate partner violence, including 
course work in spousal or partner abuse that addresses screening, referral and intervention 
strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, evidence-based 
risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics. 
An applicant may fulfill this 
requirement through course work provided through contact hours, Internet hours or 
distance learning programs, as evidenced by certification from an accredited educational 
institution or equivalent teaching or practice experience. 
The board may accept 
equivalent courses in family or intimate partner violence screening and referral and 
intervention strategies or equivalent teaching or practice experience completed prior to 
January 1, 2020 in satisfaction of this requirement. Continuing education courses taken 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 432, L.D. 1238 
pursuant to this subsection must be applied to the licensee's required hours of continuing 
education.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the description of the course work that must be completed 
by mental health clinicians from spousal or partner abuse screening and referral strategies 
to family or intimate partner violence screening and referral and intervention strategies 
and changes the licensure requirements and license renewal requirements for 
psychologists, clinical professional counselors and clinical social workers by reducing the 
number of contact hours of course work that must be completed in family or intimate 
partner violence that address screening, referral and intervention strategies. It also adds a 
provision to allow an applicant for initial licensure that is unable to demonstrate 
completion of the family or intimate partner violence course work at the time the initial 
application is submitted to demonstrate to the board that this requirement has been 
fulfilled upon the candidate's first application for license renewal. It also clarifies that the 
course work requirements that must be demonstrated at the time of license renewal are to 
be completed only once. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
Approved: 06/03/13 hac 
LD 1238 
LR 1174(02) 
An Act To Improve Professional Training for Licensed Mental Health Clinicians 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'l\..' (S-2. 64 " 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Y 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the State Board of Social Worker Licensure and 
the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, to implement the requirements of this legislation can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR 1174(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I