OK SB249

State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure shall promulgate rules allowing out-of-state licensed professional counselors, marital and family therapists, and licensed behavioral practitioners to provide counseling services during declared emergencies.

Emergency rules are only valid during declarations of emergency issued by the Governor or Legislature under the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act of 2003, or catastrophic health emergency declarations by the Governor under the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act.

Services provided under emergency rules must be pro bono or reimbursed by nongovernmental entities only.

Nothing in the law permits adoption of permanent rules that weaken existing licensing requirements for professional counselors, marital and family therapists, and behavioral practitioners.

Effective date: November 1, 2015.