On May 12, 2010 HB410 passed the State Senate on a voice vote and has been sent on to the Governor for signature. It is poised to become law 60 days from its passage. Thanks to all of you who made your voices heard to your state representatives and senators. Without your support, this important piece of legislation could not have been possible.

HB 410 makes some very important changes in the law that governs the licensure of Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. HB 410 expands the scope of practice for masters and higher prepared alcohol and other drug counselors to include the diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders within the context of substance abuse treatment/counseling. The law will require that all candidates for the MLADC going forward have a minimum of a 60 credit hour masters degree in a related field of mental health study and have 3000 hours of POST MASTERS supervised practice in substance abuse and co-occurring disorders counseling. For candidates who already hold a LADC, or who are licensed by the Board of Mental Health Practice, their license may be substituted for 1500 of the 3000 hours of supervised practice required. Counselors who hold the MLADC on the date the law goes into effect (July 12, 2010) will be grandfathered under the new statute. Therefore, if you were eligible to be grandfathered under the 2008 licensing statute and you have not already exercised your right to upgrade your license to the MLADC, your time is getting very short.

Anyone interested in being grandfathered prior to the new statute going into effect must provide an OFFICIAL COPY of his or her masters transcript to the Board ASAP to give the Board adequate time to act on the request prior to the change in the statute.