reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 203 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 203. Powers and duties of the Board

 (a) In addition to all powers specifically assigned by this chapter or by other law, the Board has the primary responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, and without limiting on the generality of the foregoing shall: (1) examine, license and regulate the following professions: (A) Licensed Substance Abuse Counselors; (B) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists; and (C) Licensed Professional Counselors. (2) provide for by regulations procedures for the revocation or suspension of licenses and provide enforcement against any professional outlined in the chapter acting without a license; (3) examine and pass on the qualification of all applicant’s for licenses under this chapter, and issue a license to each successful applicant, attesting to applicant’s professional qualifications to be a licensed professional counselor; (4) adopt a seal to be affixed to all licenses; (5) schedule and conduct examinations not less than once per year to determine qualifications of applicants after their completion of appropriate educational requirements; (6) annually publish a registry of names and business addresses of persons who are licensed under this chapter; (7) maintain a registry of approved supervisors as defined by the Board; (8) adopt the American Counselors Association Code of Ethics applicable to the practice of professional counseling; (9) set reasonable fees for applications, examinations, issuance, and renewal of licenses and other services provided by the Board at the rates sufficient to cover operating expenses incurred by the Board in carrying out examination functions; (10) establish rules for continuing education requirements for licenses; (11) establish a disciplinary committee to conduct hearings on complaints seeking discipline of a licensee or revocation of a license, and investigations related to the compliance of this chapter; (12) administer oaths, hear testimony and receive evidence with regard to matters within its jurisdiction and to issue subpoena; compelling the appearance of witnesses and production of evidence; (13) issue, modify and revoke orders restraining the violation of this chapter; and (14) after public hearings, adopt pursuant to 3 V.I.C. ch. 35, such regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, as considered necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (b) The disciplinary committee mandated in paragraph (11) of subsection (a) must be composed of fully, active, licensed counselors in the territory.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 204 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 204. Operation of Board

 (a) The Board may appoint a committee of three Board members to hear any disputed matter that requires a hearing and make recommendations to the Board for its disposition. At least one member of the committee must be licensed in the area of professional counseling which is involved in the dispute. (b) The Board may adopt the committee’s decision after reviewing it.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 205 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 205. Assistance to the Board from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs

 (a)  (1) The director of the Division of Boards and Commissions of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs shall serve as the executive director for the Board, the custodian of records, and exercise responsibility for assembling and reviewing all materials submitted by applicants for licensure applications for completeness, handling the Board’s correspondence, intake of complaints and their presentation to the Board and provide such other assistance as requested by the Board. (2) The Commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs shall provide the Board with professional, secretarial and clerical services, supplies and equipment as necessary to carry out the duties of the Board.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 207 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 207. Application for licensed Substance Abuse Counselor

 (a) The Board shall issue a license as a licensed substance abuse counselor if the applicant: (1) has met the requirements set forth in section 206; (2) has demonstrated to the Board the successful completion of a master’s or doctorate degree in addictions counseling, professional counseling, counselor education, counseling psychology, community mental health or in a comparable field with a concentration in mental health and substance abuse; (3) has demonstrated the completion of course work in the core areas, relating to the treatment of clients for alcohol and/or drugs abuse; and (4) proves that the education received by the applicant was received from an institution of higher education which at the time the applicant graduated, was accredited by the United States Department of Education and by an accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or can demonstrate equivalent course work at an institution of higher education located outside the United States, which at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation or the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. (A) The applicant shall have received education and training from an institution or higher education program officially recognized by the government of the country in which it is located as an institution or program to train students to practice as addictions counselors or psychotherapist. (B) The applicant shall have the burden of establishing that the requirements of this paragraph have been met. (b) The Board may require documentation, such as, an evaluation by a foreign equivalency determination service as evidence that the applicant’s graduate degree program and education are equivalent to an accredited program in the United States. (c) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize a substance abuse counselor to practice medicine, social work, or psychology, to provide counseling for disorders other than substance abuse, or to order, administer, or interpret psychological tests or utilize psychometric procedures.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 210 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 210. Exams, issuance of licenses without exams

 (a) The Board shall use the examinations by the national regulatory board of the respective discipline for each of the mental health professionals which the Board considers appropriate when testing applicants to determine their eligibility to become licensed professional counselors. (b) The Board shall conduct exams at least twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. (c) In any written examination, each applicant must be identified in such a manner as to maintain the confidentiality of the applicant’s examination. (d) Examinations must include questions in such theoretical and applied fields as the Board considers most suitable to test an applicant’s knowledge and competence to practice in the area for which the applicant seeks a license. (e) The Board may issue a license, without examination, for the practice of substance abuse counseling, marriage and family therapy or the professional counseling to persons who hold a valid and unrestricted license in the Virgin Islands on the effective date of this section and who meet the clinical and academic requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, respectively. The applicant for such license shall present satisfactory evidence of qualifications equal to those required of applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners, respectively, by examination in the Territory.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 211 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 211. Fees; renewal of license

 (a) An individual licensed under this chapter shall pay a fee of $200 to the Board for the original license. This fee is in addition to an examination fee set by the Board. A license is valid for two years and must be renewed biennially. The fee for a renewal license is $200. Any application for renewal of a license after it has expired requires payment of an additional fee of $50. (b) An individual licensed under this chapter shall submit at the time of renewal, the license renewal fee, evidence satisfactory to the Board of the completion during the previous 24 months of 40 hours of relevant professional continuing education experiences, and an updated Statement of Professional Intent. (c) The Board shall mail its continuing education requirements to all persons at least one year to the renewal date. (d) All fees paid pursuant to this section must be used exclusively to meet the expenses incurred in the administration, regulation and enforcement of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 213 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 213. Inactive status; fees; reactivation

 (a) Voluntary inactive status results when a licensee has applied to be placed on inactive status and has paid a $50 fee to the Board. (b) A licensee whose license is in voluntary inactive status may reactivate the license by submitting an application to the Board, filing proof of completion of continuing education requirements, complying with any background investigation required, complying with other requirements prescribed by the Board, and paying a $50 reactivation fee plus any biannual renewal fee due at the time of reactivation.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 215 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 215. Procedures

 The Board shall promulgate regulations establishing ethical standards for the conduct of persons licensed under this chapter and regulations pertaining to treatment for impaired practitioners. (a) The Board shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and regulations promulgated under this chapter. (b) Any person may represent himself before the Board or be represented by an attorney. Every vote and official act of the Board must be entered into the record. All hearings are subject to the provisions of 1 V.I.C. § 254(b) and rule-making proceedings are open to the public. (c) The Board may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all pertinent books, papers and documents relating to any matter under investigation. The Board shall issue subpoenas upon application of any party to its proceeding. (d) Witnesses summoned to appear before the Board must be paid the same fees and mileage as witnesses in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. When a subpoenaed witness fails to appear, the Board may apply to the Superior Court for an order requiring the person subpoenaed to appear before the Board to testify and produce books, papers or documents. (e) One or more Board members or a hearing examiner appointed by the Board shall preside at the hearing.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 216 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 216. Privileged communication

 (a) In judicial proceedings, whether civil, criminal or juvenile, in legislative and administrative proceedings, and in proceedings preliminary and ancillary thereto, a patient or client, or the patient’s or client’s guardian or personal representative may refuse to disclose or prevent the disclosure of confidential information, including information containing administrative records, communicated to any person licensed under this Act as a substance abuse counselor, marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, licensed career counselor, or otherwise authorized to practice within the professional counseling field under the laws of this jurisdiction, or to persons reasonably believed to be the patient or client to be so licensed, and their agents, for the purpose of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of any mental or emotional condition or disorder. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the professional counselor is presumed authorized to claim the privilege on the patient’s or client’s behalf. (b) This privilege may not be claimed by the patient or client, or on the behalf of the patient or client by any authorized person, in the following circumstances: (1) where abuse or harmful neglect of children, the elderly or disabled or incompetent individuals is known or reasonably suspected; (2) where the validity of a will of a former patient or client is contested; (3) where such information is necessary for the professional counsel or licensee under this statute to defend himself against a malpractice action brought by the patient or client; (4) where an immediate threat of physical violence against a readily identifiable victim is disclosed to the professional counselor; (5) in civil commitment proceedings, where an immediate threat of self-inflicted damage is disclosed to the professional counselor; (6) where the patient or client, by alleging mental or emotional damages in litigation, puts his mental state at issue; (7) where patient or client is examined pursuant to court order; or, (8) in the context of an investigation or hearing brought by the patient or client and conducted by the Board, where violations of this chapter are at issue.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 217 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 217. Endorsement

 (a) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant licensed as; a similar professional in another jurisdiction where the requirements for licensure are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of this Territory. (b) The Board shall review the applications for licensure under this chapter from individuals who earned a post-secondary degree from an educational institution outside the United States. The Board shall determine whether the applicant’s experience and completed academic program meet the standards of a relevant academic program of an accredited educational institution within the United States and territories. If the applicant’s experience and completed academic program meet such standards, the applicant must be considered to have received the education from an accredited educational institution as required by this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 218 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 218. Board liability

 Members of the Board and any employee or agent of the Board are not subject to civil liability for any act preformed in good faith and within the scope of the duties of the Board.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 219 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 219. Exemptions

 (a) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to the activities and services of qualified members of other professions licensed under chapters of this title, including such as physicians, psychiatrists, licensed registered nurses, psychologists, or social workers, or to attorneys at law performing counseling in a manner consistent with the scope of practice in their field, their training, and any code of ethics of their professions. However, members of professions licensed under other chapters of this title may not present themselves by use of any title stating or implying that they are licensed counselors under this chapter. (b) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to the activities and services of a person employed as a counselor by an academic institution, or a federal or territorial agency, or public or private educational institution, when such persons are performing counseling or counseling-related activities within the scope of their employment. (c) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to the activities and services of a student, intern or trainee pursuing a course of study in mental health and human services in a regionally accredited institution, if these activities are performed under supervision and constitute a part of the supervised course of study when such a person is designated, for example, an “intern,” or “student”. (d) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to the activities and services of a non-resident rendered not more than 30 days during any calendar year, if the person is authorized to perform such activities and services under the laws of the state of that person’s residence. (e) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to the activities and services of a rabbi, priest, minister, or clergy-person of any religious denomination or sect, if such activities and services are within the scope of the performance of regular or specialized ministerial duties.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 220 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 220. Unlawful practice; penalties

 (a) It is unlawful for any person to: (1) Represent himself as a counselor without being licensed under this chapter. (2) Without being licensed under this chapter, use the title of: (A) Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor; (B) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; or (C) Licensed Professional Counselor. (3) Advertise the performance of or make use of any title, word, letter or abbreviation that may reasonably be confused with a designation of occupational competence without being duly licensed; or (4) Refuse to furnish the Board with information or records required or requested pursuant to this chapter. (b) Any person who willfully engages in any unlawful act specified in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to punishment upon conviction by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each offense, and imprisonment for a term not to exceed one year. Upon conviction a person shall refund to the client all fees received for professional services rendered under any unlawful condition. (c) Any licensee under this chapter who commits sexual misconduct with a client during the professional relationship commits a felony. The giving of consent by the client for any such conduct is not a defense to the offenses. (d) For purposes of subsection (c): (1) “Sexual misconduct” means any sexual activity as defined in paragraph (2) between a licensee and a patient or client, regardless of the consent of the patient. The term does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose. (2) “Sexual activity” means: (A) Fondling the genital area, groin, inner thighs, buttocks, or breasts of a person. (B) The oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by or union with the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object. (C) Intentionally touching in a lewd or lascivious manner the breasts, genitals, the genital area, or buttocks, or the clothing covering them, of a person, or forcing or enticing a person to touch the perpetrator. (D) Intentionally masturbating in the presence of another person. (E) Intentionally exposing the genitals in a lewd or lascivious manner in the presence of another person. (F) Intentionally committing any other sexual act that does not involve actual physical or sexual contact with the victim, including, but not limited to, sadomasochistic abuse, sexual bestiality, or the simulation of any act involving sexual activity in the presence of a victim. (e) The Board may through the Attorney General proceed in the Superior Court to enjoin any unlicensed persons from violating the provisions of this chapter. The Board is not required to post bond at such proceeding.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 220a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 220a. Professional disclosure

 (a) Any individual, or employer of the individual, who is licensed under this chapter may not charge a client or receive remuneration for professional services unless before the performance of those services, the client is furnished a copy of a Professional Disclosure Statement. The Professional Disclosure Statement must be displayed in an open location at the place where the services are performed, and a copy of the statement must be provided to the client upon request. (b) The Professional Disclosure Statement must contain: (1) The name, title, business address, and business telephone number of the professional counselor performing the services; (2) The formal professional education of the professional counselor, including the institutions attended and the degrees received from them; (3) The professional counselor’s philosophy of counseling, areas of specialization, and the services provided; (4) in the case of a person licensed under this chapter who is engaged in a private individual practice, partnership, or group practice, the person’s schedule listed by type of service or hourly rate; and (5) at the bottom of the first page of the disclosure a statement stating: “This information is required by the Board of Licensed Counselors and Examiners, which regulates all licensed counselors”; and (6) The address and telephone number of Board.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 220b (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services|§ 220b. Severability

 If any provision of this chapter, or application of any provision of this chapter to any person, thing or circumstance, is determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the determination of invalidity does not affect, impair, or invalidate the other provisions, or the application of the other provisions of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to effect this purpose the provisions of this chapter are severable.