FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 753

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES DIXON (Sponsor), McGHEE, DENISON, WELLS AND SMITH (150) (Co-sponsors).

                  Read 1st time February 6, 2007 and copies ordered printed.

D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

1711L.01I

AN ACT

To repeal section 337.700, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to family and marital therapists.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Section 337.700, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 337.700, to read as follows: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.

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