Sub. S. B. No. 287 Summary

• Creates a new chemical dependency professionals board to regulate licensure and certification of chemical dependency counselors and alcohol and other drug prevention specialists, replacing previous certification processes.

• Establishes tiered licensing structure with new license types including independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical supervisor, independent chemical dependency counselor, and chemical dependency counselor III, II, and assistant; eliminates the chemical dependency counselor I license after a six-year transition period.

• Specifies education, training, and experience requirements for each license type, ranging from 40 hours of training for assistants to master's degrees and 6,000+ hours of experience for independent clinical supervisors.

• Removes wheelchairs from the definition of "direct care costs" for nursing facilities' Medicaid reimbursement calculations, excluding them from cost-based rate determinations.

• Eliminates the temporary transition provisions that previously allowed individuals with certificates from the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services to practice without meeting new licensure requirements.