MN SF955

Expands reciprocity provisions for licensed professional counselors and alcohol/drug counselors licensed in other jurisdictions, allowing individuals with five or more years of active practice to qualify for Minnesota licensure based on experience and qualifications rather than identical credential requirements.

Establishes duty to warn provisions for professional counselors and social workers that require disclosure of confidential client communications only when a client or other person communicates a specific, serious threat of physical violence to self or an identifiable potential victim.

Defines "reasonable efforts" to discharge duty to warn as communicating the threat to law enforcement agencies, the potential victim, the client's family, or appropriate third parties positioned to prevent harm.

Provides immunity from monetary liability and disciplinary action for providers who disclose confidences, fail to disclose, or erroneously disclose in good faith efforts to warn against violent behavior or suicide threats.

Expands the definition of "provider" to include students, interns, and individuals in supervised postgraduate professional practice in counseling and alcohol/drug counseling fields.