SB3684 Summary

• Extends the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act from its scheduled repeal on January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2023.

• Renames the act to the "Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act" and makes structural changes replacing references to "Director" with "Secretary" of the Department.

• Increases civil penalties for unlicensed practice from $5,000 to $10,000 per offense and increases disciplinary fines from $1,000 to $10,000 for violations.

• Establishes new provisions creating requirements for licensed professional counselors regarding independent practice of clinical professional counseling, including restrictions that they must work under the supervision of a licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist.

• Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act to include violations of elder abuse reporting requirements as grounds for discipline and adds professional counselors to the list of mandated reporters for elder abuse.