SB116 Summary

• Establishes the position of "community mental health counselor" to be performed by volunteers or employees of nonprofit organizations providing counseling and support services to K-12 public schools, community colleges, and public higher education institutions.

• Requires the State Board of Education, Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, and Alabama Commission on Higher Education to collaborate with the Department of Mental Health in adopting operational guidelines for community mental health counselors in their respective institutions.

• Requires each governing board to design and provide application form templates for nonprofit organizations seeking to place sponsored community mental health counselors in educational institutions.

• Provides qualified immunity for community mental health counselors and sponsoring nonprofit organizations from civil liability for work-related acts or omissions, except in cases of unreasonable, intentional, or willful or wanton misconduct.

• Specifies that the act does not establish licensure requirements for community mental health counselors and becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.