WA SB6232

Establishes a new independent Board of Licensed Mental Health Counselors consisting of 9 governor-appointed members (7 licensed mental health counselors, 2 public members) serving 3-year terms to regulate the profession separately from the existing combined advisory committee

Transfers regulatory authority over mental health counselors from the Department of Health secretary to the new board, which will set education/experience requirements, administer examinations, adopt ethics codes, establish supervision standards, and handle disciplinary functions

Creates a new chapter in Title 18 RCW specifically for mental health counselor licensing, separating it from chapter 18.225 RCW which will continue governing marriage and family therapists and social workers

Requires board implementation within 36 months: initial board appointments within 6 months of July 1, 2026; first meeting within 9 months; initial rulemaking within 18 months; full regulatory authority within 36 months

Amends numerous existing statutes across the RCW to reference the new mental health counselor licensing chapter, ensuring continuity of existing professional practice privileges, confidentiality protections, and insurance requirements