FIRST REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LAMPE (Sponsor), DENISON, LOW (39), BROWN (50) AND CASEY (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time March 29, 2005 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 337.700, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to marital and family therapy.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 337.700, RSMo, is repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 337.700 and 337.704, to read as follows:
337.700. As used in sections 337.700 to 337.739, the following terms mean:
(1) "Committee", the state committee for family and marital therapists;
(2) "Department", the Missouri department of economic development;
(3) "Director", the director of the division of professional registration in the department of economic development;
(4) "Division", the division of professional registration;
(5) "Fund", the marital and family therapists' fund created in section 337.712;
(6) "Licensed marital and family therapist", a person to whom a license has been issued pursuant to the provisions of sections 337.700 to 337.739, whose license is in force and not suspended or revoked;
(7) "Marital and family therapy", the use of scientific and applied marriage and family theories, methods and procedures for the purpose of describing, diagnosing, evaluating and modifying marital, family and individual behavior within the context of marital and family systems, including the context of marital formation and dissolution. Marriage and family therapy is based on systems theories, marriage and family development, normal and dysfunctional behavior, human sexuality and psychotherapeutic, marital and family therapy theories and techniques and includes the use of marriage and family therapy theories and techniques in the diagnosis, evaluation, assessment and treatment of intrapersonal or interpersonal dysfunctions within the context of marriage and family systems. Marriage and family therapy may also include clinical research into more effective methods for the treatment and prevention of the above-named conditions;
(8) "Practice of marital and family therapy", the rendering of professional marital and family therapy services to individuals, family groups and marital pairs, singly or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the general public or through organizations, either public or private, for a fee, monetary or otherwise.
337.704. 1. After August 28, 2007, each applicant for licensure under sections 337.700 to 337.739 shall have completed a minimum of three hours of graduate level course work in diagnostic systems in the curriculum leading to his or her degree. Each applicant shall demonstrate supervision of diagnosis as a core component of the requisite prelicensure supervision.
2. Any person licensed under sections 337.700 to 337.739 prior to August 28, 2007, shall furnish the committee with evidence of existing course work and supervision in diagnostic systems. Where such evidence is not present, the licensee shall establish a plan approved by the committee to develop and demonstrate competency in diagnosis.
3. All persons once licensed under sections 337.700 to 337.739 shall furnish to the committee satisfactory evidence of the completion of no less than forty contact hours of continuing education biennially.