An Act To Improve the Ability of Mental Health Professionals To Assess the Risk of Suicide
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1158
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SAVIELLO, BUCKLAND, BREEN, BURNS, DAVIS, DIAMOND, KATZ, HILLIARD
Amends: 32 MRSA §3835, 32 MRSA §7060, 32 MRSA §13858

Legislative Document 
No. 1158 
S.P. 410 
In Senate, March 31, 2015 
An Act To Improve the Ability of Mental Health Professionals To 
Assess the Risk of Suicide 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin. 
Cosponsored by Representative BUCKLAND of Farmington and 
Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, BURNS of Washington, DAVIS of Piscataquis, DIAMOND 
of Cumberland, KATZ of Kennebec, Representative: HILLIARD of Belgrade. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §3835, as amended by PL 2013, c. 262, §2, is further amended 
by adding after the first paragraph a new paragraph to read: 
Beginning January 1, 2018, a person who submits an application for license renewal 
shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board successful completion of a minimum of 
hours of course work every 10 years in suicide prevention, evidence-based suicide risk 
assessment or the treatment and management of suicidal persons, including knowledge of 
community resources and cultural factors.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant 
to this paragraph may be used to satisfy the licensee’s other continuing education 
requirements. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §7060, as amended by PL 2013, c. 262, §4, is further amended 
by adding after the first paragraph a new paragraph to read: 
Beginning January 1, 2018, a person who submits an application for license renewal 
shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board successful completion of a minimum of 
hours of course work every 10 years in suicide prevention, evidence-based suicide risk 
assessment or the treatment and management of suicidal persons, including knowledge of 
community resources and cultural factors.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant 
to this paragraph may be used to satisfy the licensee’s other continuing education 
requirements. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §13858, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 262, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
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 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §13858, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 262, §5, is 
amended to read: 
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.; and 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §13858, sub-§2, ¶D is enacted to read: 
D.  Beginning January 1, 2018, demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board 
successful completion of a minimum of 6 hours of course work every 10 years in 
suicide prevention, evidence-based suicide risk assessment or the treatment and 
management of suicidal persons, including knowledge of community resources and 
cultural factors.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this paragraph may 
be used to satisfy the licensee’s other continuing education requirements. 
SUMMARY 
This bill adds a new requirement for the renewal of professional licenses for social 
workers, licensed clinical professional counselors and psychologists that each must show 
proof upon renewal that the licensee has completed a minimum of 6 hours of course work 
every 10 years in suicide prevention, evidence-based suicide risk assessment or the 
treatment and management of suicidal persons, including knowledge of community 
resources and cultural factors.  These courses may be used to satisfy the licensee's other 
continuing education requirements.