An Act To Require Licensed Mental Health Professionals To Receive Training in Suicide Risk Assessment
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1403
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: MALABY, GILBERT, MAKER, KATZ
Amends: 32 MRSA §7060, 32 MRSA §13860

Legislative Document 
No. 1403 
H.P. 952 
House of Representatives, May 12, 2015 
An Act To Require Licensed Mental Health Professionals To 
Receive Training in Suicide Risk Assessment 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative MALABY of Hancock. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: GILBERT of Jay, MAKER of Calais, Senator: KATZ of 
Kennebec. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  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 required hours of continuing 
education. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §13860, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 262, §6, 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 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, and successful completion of 6 hours of course work every 
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.  An applicant may fulfill this requirement these requirements 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 
evidence-based suicide risk assessment and treatment of suicidal persons, 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 these requirements.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this 
subsection must be applied to the licensee's required hours of continuing education. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws governing the licensure renewal requirements for mental 
health clinicians, including professional counselors and social workers, to require 6 
continuing education hours in suicide risk assessment and treatment of suicidal persons as 
a requirement for license renewal.