HB 20-1206 Summary: Mental Health Professional Regulation

• Extends the sunset date for regulation of mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, addiction counselors, and unlicensed psychotherapists) from September 1, 2020 to September 1, 2029

• Allows mental health professionals to possess, furnish, or administer opiate antagonists (like naloxone) in accordance with standing orders and protocols to address opioid overdoses

• Changes terminology from "registered psychotherapist" to "unlicensed psychotherapist" throughout statutes to clarify their unlicensed status

• Creates a Mental Health Disciplinary Record Work Group to study and recommend policies on disclosure timelines for letters of admonition and criminal history records of applicants

• Implements various regulatory updates to supervision requirements, continuing competency standards, and professional licensing standards based on 2019 sunset report recommendations