Senate Bill 1173 Summary

• Enacts the Counseling Compact into Arizona law, allowing licensed professional counselors with valid licenses in one member state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses in each state.

• Establishes the Counseling Compact Commission as a governing body composed of state delegates to oversee interstate practice, develop rules, maintain a data system for licensure and disciplinary information, and coordinate enforcement among member states.

• Requires member states to license and regulate professional counselors, mandate nationally recognized exams, require 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of graduate coursework in specified topic areas, and implement criminal background checks for applicants.

• Allows licensed professional counselors to obtain a "privilege to practice" in remote states if they hold an unencumbered license in their home state, have no adverse actions in the previous two years, and meet any applicable state jurisprudence requirements or fees.

• Remote states retain authority to take adverse actions against a licensee's privilege to practice and enforce state laws, while only the home state can take action against the primary license; includes provisions for active duty military personnel and their spouses to designate a home state.