MS HB583

Reenacts and extends licensure laws for social workers and marriage and family therapists that were set to expire, pushing the new repeal date to July 1, 2018

Maintains the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists as a 10-member body (6 social workers, 4 marriage and family therapists) appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Expands the definition of "practice of marriage and family therapy" to explicitly include assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders within a marriage and family therapy context

Clarifies that marriage and family therapists cannot perform psychological evaluations or testing, including administering intellectual, neuropsychological, or projective instruments, or label any procedure as "psychological"

Requires criminal background checks including fingerprinting for all licensure applicants and establishes continuing education requirements for license renewal