Right Column

Approved Legislation - 2005

For further information regarding legislation see California's Legislative Information website which provides the bill's language, history, status, and analysis as provided by the California State Legislature. For further information regarding approved legislation, contact the Board office at (916) 574-7830.

You can download the current version of the Board's Statutes and Regulations Relating to the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, Educational Psychology, and Clinical Social Work. The Board's Statutes and Regulations contain sections of the California Business and Professions Code and the California Code of Regulations. The publication also contains miscellaneous code sections from the California Health and Safety Code and the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

The following legislation became effective January 1, 2005:

SB 136 (Figueroa)
This legislation further clarifies the examinations required for licensure by specifying the written clinical vignette examination, identifies the fees associated with that examination, and gives the Board the authority to adjust all fees for examinations to those actually incurred.

SB 598 (Machado)
This legislation specifies the conditions for release of records regarding an individual's participation in outpatient psychotherapy.

SB 953 (Vasconcellos)
This legislation requires persons who begin graduate studies on and after January 1, 2004, to complete a minimum of 10 hours of coursework in aging and long term care for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

• Effective January 1, 2005, MFTs and LCSWs who began graduate study prior to January 1, 2004, are required to complete a 3 hour continuing education course in aging and long term care prior to renewing their license.
• The Board may accept evidence of completion of an equivalent course taken prior to the operative date of the legislation or may accept prior teaching or practice experience in order to fulfill the continuing education requirement.

SB 1913 (Senate Business and Professions Committee)
This bill further clarifies the aging and long-term care continuing education requirement, identifies the correct fee charged for registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, references the correct process performed by the Council on Social Work Education, establishes criteria for acceptance of an MSW degree obtained outside the United States, and deletes unnecessary language regarding acceptance of experience and out of state experience.

AB 2182 (Koretz)
This legislation adds MFT Interns and ASWs to the identification of professional persons who can treat a minor 12 and older for drug and alcohol problems.

AB 2552 (Leno)
This legislation adds the use, application, and integration of required coursework and training to the Marriage and Family Therapist scope of practice, and addresses the arrangements of alternative supervision when a MFT Intern's supervisor is on vacation or sick leave.

Updated: January 28, 2008