An Act To Remove Barriers to Workforce Development in Alcohol and Drug Counseling and To Increase the MaineCare Reimbursement Rates for Certain Counselors
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1376
Committee Amendment CA_A_H422 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §6214-D

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 955, L.D. 1376, Bill, "An Act To 
Remove Barriers to Workforce Development in Alcohol and Drug Counseling and To 
Increase the MaineCare Reimbursement Rates for Certain Counselors" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Remove Barriers to Workforce Development in Alcohol and Drug 
Counseling' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 3 to 5 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §6214-D, sub-§1, ~' as enacted by PL 2003, c. 347, §16 and 
affected by §25, is amended to read: 
D. Meet one of the following eduoational requirements: 
( 1) A high sehool diploma or its equivalent, eourse work as defined by board 
rUle and a minimum of 6,000 hours of doeumonted supervised praetiee in aleohol 
and drug eounseling or Complete 2,000 hours if the applioant holds a Yalid of 
documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling as a certified 
alcohol and drug counselor oertifioation; 
(2) An Possess an associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited college or 
university in clinically based behavioral sciences or addiction counseling or a 
related field as defined by board rule, course work as defined by board rule and 
complete a minimum of 4,000 hours of documented supervised practice in 
alcohol and drug counseling, except that an applicant who holds a bachelor's 
degree from an accredited college or university that meets the requirements of 
this subparagraph and who has completed at least 18 credit hours of course work 
in addiction counseling need only complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of 
documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling; or 
(3) -A- Possess a master's degree from an accredited college or university in 
clinically based behavioral sciences or addiction counseling or a related field as 
defined by board rule, course work as defined by board rule and a minimum of 
Page I - 128LR1756(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 955, L.D. 1376 
2,000 hours of documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling, 
except that an applicant who holds a master's degree from an accredited college 
or university that meets the requirements of this subparagraph and who has 
completed at least 12 credit hours of course work in addiction counseling need 
only complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of documented supervised practice in 
alcohol and drug counseling. 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment removes the provisions of the bill directing the Department of 
Health and Human Services to increase certain MaineCare reimbursement rates and 
directing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State Board of 
Alcohol and Drug Counselors to change the processes for licensing applications and 
examinations. 
The amendment also restores the requirements in current law that an applicant for 
licensure as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor must complete 4,000 hours of practice 
in alcohol and drug counseling if the applicant possesses an associate or bachelor's degree 
from an approved program or must complete 2,000 hours of practice in alcohol and drug 
counseling if the applicant possesses a master's degree from an approved program. The 
amendment creates exceptions reducing the clinical practice hour requirements for 
applicants who complete a specified number of credit hours in addiction counseling 
course work in the course of obtaining a bachelor's degree or master's degree from an 
approved program. 
FISCAL :NOTE REQUIRED 
(See tittaohed) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/21/17 #ac. 
LD 1376 
LR 1756(02) 
An Act To Remove Barriers to Workforce Development in Alcohol and Drug Counseling and To 
Increase the MaineCare Reimbursement Rates for Certain Counselors 
\ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'ft CJ/-_,. L/ J'J) 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State Board of Alcohol and Drug 
Counselors, to implement the requirements of this legislation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LRl 756(02) - Fiscal Note -Page 1 of 1