Summary of Recent GRC and Chapter 491 Board Meetings

Overview

The Government Relations Committee (GRC) convened on September 17th, while the Chapter 491 board held a general business meeting in Miami on August 21st. The following sections summarize the key decisions, discussions, and ongoing issues addressed during these two meetings.

GRC Board Decisions and Legislative Priorities

The GRC board faced a difficult but necessary decision regarding its legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Instead of focusing on the renaming of registered interns, the board chose to address the implications of House Bill 1091/Senate Bill 1240, which became effective on July 1st. This legislation removed language that previously allowed judicial courts to assign mental health evaluation cases to Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). As a result, there has been a significant backlog of cases in judicial circuits already experiencing shortages of psychologists and psychiatrists qualified to conduct evaluations. The change has also led to the loss of current and future job opportunities for LMHCs who are trained and qualified to provide these evaluations.

On a positive note, there is hope that the increased attention to this issue will garner strong support and potentially create opportunities to pursue another goal—proposing updates to Department of Education (DOE) policies and procedures.

Proposed Changes to Department of Education Policies

The current DOE policies, established in the 1970s before LMHCs became a recognized profession, do not specify LMHCs as qualified professionals for conducting evaluations, making diagnoses, or providing recommendations. This impacts students needing 504 plans, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services, and employees seeking vocational rehabilitation. Research and a membership vote have been completed in support of a proposal to update these policies. A draft letter is now awaiting approval from the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) board before being presented to the DOE.

Chapter 491 Board Member Shortages and Advocacy

The Chapter 491 board continues to face challenges due to a shortage of appointed members. Although the board is designed for nine members, it is currently functioning with only three, including two vacant seats designated for LMHC representatives. Several GRC members have applied for these positions, but no feedback has been received. The committee is urging the governor to expedite the appointment process for these critical roles.

Licensure Clarification and Meeting Documentation

Dr. Aaron Norton, President of the GRC, addressed the Chapter 491 board to seek clarification regarding licensure eligibility for students graduating with a KCREP-accredited degree in counseling fields other than clinical mental health counseling. If these graduates have completed the required credits, they are eligible for licensure. This clarification is significant, as confusion on this matter has affected board members, staff, educators, and students alike. The clarification is now officially documented in the meeting minutes, offering reassurance to all stakeholders involved.

Registered Interns and Supervisor Approval

Multiple cases presented at the Chapter 491 meeting highlighted the importance of registered interns ensuring that their qualified supervisor submissions are approved prior to beginning internship hours. Many interns have lost hundreds or thousands of hours due to misunderstandings or errors, especially when switching supervisors during their internship. Regardless of assurances from supervisors about submitted documentation, interns must proactively confirm board approval before starting any internship hours.

Concerns Regarding Therapist Platforms

During the GRC meeting, there was brief discussion about concerns related to therapist platforms such as 7 Cups of Tea and BetterHelp. The committee expressed worries about these platforms allegedly diverting clients from other therapists through misleading advertisements. Accusations include the use of therapist profiles that are not active on the platform to attract searches and redirect clients to participating therapists. Reportedly, a class action lawsuit has been initiated by former clients, and the GRC will continue to monitor developments related to this issue.