LD 1320
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Page 1 of 2 An Act Relating to the Office of Substance Abuse and the Licensing of Substance... LD 1320 Title Page
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LR 1990
Item 1

 
4.__Department.__"Department" means the Department of Mental
Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

 
5.__Nonprovider.__"Nonprovider" means an individual who
neither is presently nor has been any of the following for the
past 3 years:

 
A.__An alcohol and drug counselor;

 
B.__An administrator or board member of a facility or
program that provides alcohol and drug counseling services;
or

 
C.__The spouse of any of those persons listed in paragraphs
A and B.

 
6.__Licensed alcohol and drug counselor.__"Licensed alcohol
and drug counselor" means an individual who provides the service
of professional alcohol and drug counseling to the public for a
fee, monetary or otherwise, and who meets the criteria
established in sections 20089-A and 20089-C for a licensed
alcohol and drug counselor.

 
7.__Inactive alcohol and drug counselor.__"Inactive alcohol
and drug counselor" means a licensed or registered alcohol and
drug counselor who registers with the board for a leave from the
field for a period not to exceed 2 years.__Inactive alcohol and
drug counselors are not required to take the written or oral
examinations nor provide documentation of continuing education
during the period they have abstained from practice.__Inactive
alcohol and drug counselors must notify the board for license
renewal prior to resuming their practice.

 
8.__Alcohol and drug counseling services.__"Alcohol and drug
counseling services" are those counseling services offered for a
fee, monetary or otherwise, as part of the treatment and
rehabilitation of persons abusing alcohol or other drugs.__The
purpose of alcohol and drug counseling services is to help
individuals, families and groups confront and resolve problems
caused by the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.__Alcohol and drug
counseling services are the 12 core functions defined by rule of
the board.

 
9.__Registered alcohol and drug counselor.__"Registered
alcohol and drug counselor" means a practitioner who provides the
service of professional alcohol and drug counseling to the public
for a fee, monetary or otherwise, who does not engage in private
practice and who meets the criteria established in sections
20089-A and 20089-B for a registered alcohol and drug counselor.

 
§20082.__Reporting

 
By August 1st of each year, the board shall submit to the
commissioner for the preceding fiscal year ending June 30th, an
annual report of its operations and financial position, together
with such comments and recommendations as the board considers
essential.__The commissioner shall maintain the board's funds in
a separate account and shall provide the board with a quarterly
accounting of its revenues and expenses.__When submitting any
budget request to the Legislature, the department and the
Governor shall provide that any funds for the board be listed in
a separate account.

 
§20083.__Licensing

 
A person may not, unless specifically exempted by this
subchapter, practice as an alcohol and drug counselor or profess
to the public to be, or assume or use the title or designation
of, "inactive alcohol and drug counselor," "licensed alcohol and
drug counselor" or "registered alcohol and drug counselor" or the
abbreviation "I.A.D.C.," "L.A.D.C." or "R.A.D.C." or any other
title, designation, words, letters or device tending to indicate
the person is licensed or registered, unless that person is
licensed or registered with and holds a current and valid license
or certificate of registration from the board.__A person who
offers or gives alcohol and drug counseling services for
compensation in violation of this section must be punished, upon
adjudication, by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than
$500 for each such offense.

 
§20084.__Exemptions

 
1.__Peer groups; self-help.__This subchapter may not be
construed to prevent any person from engaging in or offering
substance abuse services such as self-help, sponsorship through
alcoholics or narcotics anonymous groups or other uncompensated
substance abuse assistance.

 
2.__Government and school employees.__This subchapter may not
be construed to apply to the activities and services of an
employee or other agent of a recognized academic institution; a
federal, state, county or local government institution, a program
agency or facility; or a school committee, school district,
school approved for attendance purposes pursuant to Title 20-A,
section 2901, school board or board of trustees, if the
individual is performing those activities solely within the
agency or under the jurisdiction of that agency and if a license
granted under this subchapter is not a requirement for
employment.

 
3.__Clergy.__This subchapter may not be construed to apply to
the activities and services of any priest, rabbi, member of the
clergy, Christian Science healer or minister of the gospel of any
religious denomination when performing counseling services as
part of religious duties and in connection with a specific
synagogue or church of any religious denomination.

 
4.__Interns.__This subchapter may not be construed to apply to
the activities and services of a student, intern or trainee in
substance abuse counseling pursuing a course of study in
counseling in a regionally accredited institution of higher
education or training institution, if those activities are
performed under supervision and constitute a part of the
supervised course of study.

 
5.__Other licensed professionals.__This subchapter may not be
construed to prevent a person licensed in the field of medicine,
psychology, nursing, social work or professional counseling who
is qualified to provide substance abuse counseling services by
virtue of the requirements for that profession from engaging in
or offering substance abuse counseling services if such a person
does not profess to be providing the service of a substance abuse
counselor as the sole professional service rendered by that
person.__These professionals may not be required to obtain
additional certification in order to provide substance abuse
counseling services as permitted by this subsection.

 
§20085.__Registration required

 
1.__Alcohol and drug counselor.__A person who performs or
offers to perform alcohol and drug counseling services for a fee,
monetary or otherwise, and who professes to be an alcohol and
drug counselor is required to submit evidence of the
qualifications to practice and must be registered or licensed in
accordance with this subchapter.

 
2.__Evidence of qualifications.__An individual who is
providing the service of alcohol and drug counseling to the
public for a fee, monetary or otherwise, and who is not employed
in a program certified or licensed by the State is required to
submit evidence of the qualifications to practice and must be
licensed as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor as provided in
this subchapter.__An individual who is providing the service of
alcohol and drug counseling to the public for a fee, monetary or
otherwise, and who is employed in a program certified or licensed
by the State must be registered or be licensed pursuant to this
subchapter.

 
ARTICLE II

 
STATE BOARD OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELORS

 
§20086.__Appointment; terms; vacancies

 
1.__Membership.__The State Board of Alcohol and Drug
Counselors, as established by section 12004-A, subsection 41,
consists of 9 members.__Seven members are appointed by the
Governor.__One member must be the director or a designee.__One
member, appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Maine
System, must be a member of the university faculty involved in
the training of substance abuse or alcohol and drug counselors.__
Of these 9 members, 5 members must be licensed alcohol and drug
counselors and 2 members must be public members.__Members must
represent a broad geographic distribution of the State.

 
2.__Term of office.__Appointments are for 3-year terms.__
Appointments of members must comply with Title 32, section 60.

 
§20087.__Removal of board members

 
A board member may be removed by the Governor for cause.

 
§20088.__Meetings; elections; quorum

 
The board shall meet at least once a year to conduct business
and elect officers.__Additional meetings may be held as necessary
to conduct the business of the board, and may be convened at the
call of the chair or a majority of the board members.__Six
members of the board constitute a quorum for all purposes.

 
The board shall elect a chair and such officers as determined
necessary to carry out the business of the board.__The board
shall keep such records and minutes as are necessary to the
ordinary dispatch of its functions.

 
§20089.__Powers and duties of board

 
The board has the following powers and duties in addition to
all other powers and duties imposed by this subchapter.

 
1.__Set standards. The board shall administer and enforce this
subchapter, set forth education and examination standards and
evaluate the qualifications for licensure.__Any standards of
eligibility set by the board must be clearly defined, measurable
and written in accordance with accepted standards and be
available to the public upon request.

 
2.__Adopt criteria.__The board, in cooperation with the
office, may design and adopt an examination or other suitable

 
criteria for establishing a candidate's knowledge, skill and
experience in alcohol and drug counseling.__Any criteria adopted
by the board for establishing a candidate's knowledge, skill and
experience in alcohol and drug counseling must be clearly
defined, have an established baseline scoring procedure that is
objectively measured, be in writing and be available to the
public upon request.

 
3.__Registration and standards.__The board may register and
set standards of practice for all persons practicing as alcohol
and drug counselors who are working in the State.__Any standards
set by the board for practice for alcohol and drug counselors
working in the State must be clearly defined, measurable and
written in accordance with accepted standards and available to
the public upon request.__Educational background must be a
consideration in any licensing or registration standards adopted
by the board.

 
4.__Rules. The board may adopt such rules and establish such
advisory committees as the board considers necessary and proper
to carry out this subchapter.__Rules must be adopted in
accordance with the procedures established in chapter 375,
subchapter II and are routine technical rules as defined in
chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

 
5.__Complaints.__The board shall investigate, or cause to be
investigated, all complaints made to it and all cases of
noncompliance with or other violation of this subchapter or any
rules adopted by the board.

 
6.__Hearings.__Hearings must be conducted by the board to
assist with investigations, to determine whether grounds exist
for suspension, revocation or denial of registration or licensure
or as otherwise considered necessary to the fulfillment of its
responsibilities under this subchapter.

 
The board may not refuse to renew registration or licensure for
any reason other than failure to pay a required fee unless it has
afforded the licensee an opportunity for an adjudicatory hearing.__
The board shall hold an adjudicatory hearing at the written
request of any person who is denied registration or licensure
without a hearing for any reason other than failure to pay a
required fee, as long as the request for hearing is received by
the board within 30 days of the applicant's receipt of written
notice of the denial of application, the reasons for the denial
of application and the applicant's right to request a hearing.__
Hearings must be conducted in conformity with chapter 375,
subchapter IV, to the extent applicable.__The board may subpoena
witnesses, records and documents in any hearing it conducts.

 
7.__Records.__The board shall keep records and minutes for the
ordinary dispatch of its functions.

 
8.__Code of ethics.__The board shall adopt a code of ethics
generally in keeping with standards established by the national
professional associations concerned with the areas of board
responsibility.

 
9.__Issue licenses.__The board shall issue licenses as
necessary to implement this subchapter.

 
10.__Service provider reports.__The board shall keep on file
for 2 years the service provider reports furnished under Title
22, section 7208.__The board shall use the list supplied by the
Department of Human Services under that section as an aid to
ensure that all providers file the reports required by that
section and that those reports are accurate.__The board may take
disciplinary action under chapter 375, subchapter IV for failure
to provide the required reports and for intentional inaccuracies
in the reported information.__The board shall make a statistical
compilation of these individual reports at the end of each year.

 
11.__Clinical supervision.__For purposes of direct clinical
supervision of licensed practitioners in the field of alcohol and
drug counseling, the board may certify upon receipt of a proper
application and fee licensed psychologists, physicians,
registered clinical nurse specialists, clinical professional
counselors and clinical social workers who are qualified to
provide alcohol and drug counseling services by virtue of the
requirements for that profession.__Other members of any mental
health profession must meet the criteria set forth by the
International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, or a
successor organization, or equivalent qualifications as
determined by the board by rulemaking.

 
ARTICLE III

 
REGISTRATION AND LICENSURE

 
§20089-A.__Eligibility requirements for persons providing alcohol

 
and drug counseling

 
To be eligible to practice as an alcohol and drug counselor,
an applicant must:

 
1.__Age; education. Be at least 18 years of age, have a high
school diploma or its equivalent and demonstrate trustworthiness
and competence to engage in the practice of alcohol and drug

 
counseling in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the
public; and

 
2.__Abstinence from drugs and alcohol.__Have abstained from
the active abuse of alcohol or any other drug that in the
judgment of the board has been or could have been detrimental to
the applicant's performance or competency as an alcohol and drug
counselor.__It is strongly recommended that applicants have
abstained for at least the 2-year period immediately preceding
the date on which application is made. In considering an
applicant for registration, the board may not consider a history
of previous alcoholism or drug addiction as an essential
qualification nor disqualification for registration or licensure.

 
§20089-B.__Eligibility requirements for registration

 
An individual may not practice as an alcohol and drug
counselor for a fee, monetary or otherwise, unless that
individual is licensed pursuant to this subchapter or registers
with the board.__Each individual who is not licensed and who
engages in alcohol and drug counseling shall register with the
board every 2 years.__Each individual who registers shall fill
out a form designed by the board.__A person registered to provide
alcohol and drug counseling services may not practice without
supervision or engage in private practice.

 
The board may issue a license to practice as a registered
alcohol and drug counselor upon the affirmative vote of 6 members
of the board to any applicant who has met the eligibility
requirements set forth in section 20089-A.

 
An applicant who is not issued a license or a certificate of
registration may again apply for registration after a period of
not less than 6 months from the date of the last denial.

 
§20089-C.__Eligibility requirements for qualification as

 
licensed alcohol and drug counselor

 
1.__Licensed alcohol and drug counselor.__The board shall
issue a license to practice as a licensed alcohol and drug
counselor upon the affirmative vote of at least 6 members of the
board to any applicant who has satisfactorily met the following
minimal requirements:

 
A.__Met the eligibility requirements set forth in section
20089-A;

 
B.__Obtained a passing grade, as established by the board,
on the written and oral examinations the board has
prescribed by its rules;

 
C.__Obtained at least an associate's degree in an
appropriate social science field from an accredited
institution or program approved by the board with a
concentration of course work in the 12 core functions
defined by rule of the board;

 
D.__Completed a minimum of 4,000 supervised direct client
service hours in the 12 core functions defined by rule of
the board.__This work experience may be gained in any
supervised activity, including volunteer work or student
placement, that relates to the core functions described in
the board's licensing examination; and

 
E.__Provided documentation of experience with a wide range
of clients, in a wide range of treatment settings while
working independently.

 
2.__Other qualifications.__An individual who has obtained a
master's degree in counseling, substance abuse or a related field
and who can document 1,000 hours of direct service to clients
with problems related to substance abuse is eligible to apply for
licensure and must be licensed in accordance with this
subchapter.__The board may adopt rules to recognize exceptional
education or experience that qualifies an applicant to apply for
licensure.

 
§20089-D.__Application

 
A person registered by the board as a registered substance
abuse counselor prior to September 1, 1987 is automatically
licensed as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

 
A person registered by the board as a registered substance
abuse counselor, provisional or not registered by the board but
who is providing the primary service of professional alcohol and
drug counseling to the public and who is not employed in a
program certified or licensed by the State prior to the effective
date of this section shall comply with the requirements of
section 20085, subsection 2, by July 1, 2002.

 
§20089-E.__Application; membership fees

 
Application for registration as a registered alcohol and drug
counselor or for licensure as a licensed alcohol and drug
counselor must be on forms prescribed and furnished by the board.
The director may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized
under this subchapter in amounts that are reasonable and
necessary for their respective purposes, except that the fee for
any one purpose may not exceed $200 annually.__Rules adopted

 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

 
§20089-F.__Examinations

 
The board shall make reasonable arrangements for written and
oral examinations to be held at times and places necessary to
accommodate those persons applying to take the examinations.__The
examinations must be graded using established written baseline
scores for failure or passage, be based on accepted alcohol and
drug counseling criteria and include measurable and clearly
defined procedures for grading the results and issuing a pass or
fail decision.__Decisions on all examinations, oral and written,
must be in writing and include a grade, a summary of the criteria
for the grade and an explanation of the procedure for
reexamination or appeal.__Notice of the examination results must
be forwarded to the applicants within 15 days of the date on
which the examination was conducted.__The board may use fees
generated from examinations to pay examination evaluators.

 
ARTICLE IV

 
SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION

 
§20089-G.__Suspension and revocation

 
The board may suspend or revoke a license or certificate of
registration pursuant to section 10004.__In addition, the board
may refuse to issue or renew or the District Court may suspend,
revoke or refuse to renew a license or certificate of
registration on any of the following grounds:

 
1.__Fraud or deceit.__The practice of fraud or deceit in
obtaining a license or a certificate of registration under this
subchapter or in connection with services rendered as an alcohol
and drug counselor;

 
2.__Active abuse.__Active abuse of alcohol or any other drug
that in the judgment of the board is detrimental to the
performance or competence of an alcohol and drug counselor;

 
3.__Mental incompetence.__A legal finding of mental
incompetence;

 
4.__Aiding and abetting misrepresentation.__Aiding or abetting
a person not duly licensed or registered as an alcohol and drug
counselor in representing that person as a licensed alcohol and
drug counselor or registered alcohol and drug counselor in this
State;

 
5.__Unprofessional conduct or negligence.__Gross negligence,
incompetence, misconduct or violation of the code of ethics
established by the board in the performance of alcohol and drug
counseling services;

 
6.__Criminal conviction.__Subject to the limitations of
chapter 341, conviction of a Class A, B or C crime or of a crime
which, if committed in this State, would be punishable by one
year or more of imprisonment;

 
7.__Incompetence in the practice of counseling.__Incompetence
in the practice of counseling such as engaging in conduct that
evidences a lack of ability or fitness to discharge the duty owed
by the counselor to a client or engaging in conduct that
evidences a lack of knowledge or inability to apply principles or
skills to carry out the practice for which that person is
licensed, certified or registered; or

 
8.__Valid cause.__Any other valid cause including violation of
any provision of this subchapter or rule of the board.

 
§20089-H.__Issuance after denial, suspension or revocation

 
An individual whose license or registration has been denied,
suspended or revoked may apply to the board for licensure,
registration or certification reinstatement one year after the
date of the board's original action.__A competence review is a
condition of reinstatement.__The board shall determine the nature
of this review and adopt rules.

 
§20089-I.__Expiration and renewal

 
A license or registration under this subchapter expires
annually on November 30th or at such other time as the
commissioner may designate.__Licensure or registration may be
renewed upon written application, the approval of the board and
the payment of the fee provided.__ Before a license or
registration may be renewed, the applicant must present evidence
of continued professional learning and training of a type
acceptable to the board.__At a minimum, applicants for renewal
must document the successful completion of at least 50 hours of
continuing education, as defined by the board, within 2 years.

 
Licensure or registration may be renewed up to 90 days after
the date of expiration upon payment of a late fee in addition to
the renewal fee.__A person who submits an application for renewal
more than 90 days after the license renewal date is subject to
all requirements governing new applicants under this subchapter,
except that the board may in its discretion, giving due
consideration to the protection of the public, waive examination

 
if that renewal application is made within 2 years from the date
of that expiration or if the applicant is a registered inactive
alcohol and drug counselor.__The board is responsible for mailing
notification of the date of expiration of a license or a
certificate of registration to any licensed alcohol and drug
counselor, inactive alcohol and drug counselor or registered
alcohol and drug counselor not later than 30 days prior to the
date of expiration.

 
§20089-J.__Reciprocity

 
The board may waive examination for applicants who are
recognized by other credentialing bodies as having met
qualifications and standards determined by the board to be
equivalent to those set forth in this subchapter.

 
§20089-K.__Treatment of minors

 
A person licensed under this subchapter who renders counseling
services to a minor for the treatment of problems associated with
the abuse of drugs or alcohol is under no obligation to obtain
the consent of that minor's parent or guardian or to inform that
parent or guardian of that treatment.__This section may not be
construed to prohibit the licensed person rendering that
treatment from informing that parent or guardian.__For the
purposes of this section "abuse of drugs" means the use of drugs
solely for their stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic effect
upon the higher functions of the central nervous system and not
as a therapeutic agent recommended by a practitioner in the
course of medical treatment.

 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA c. 81, as amended, is repealed.

 
Sec. 5. 34-B MRSA §1204, sub-§2, śC, as amended by PL 1995, c. 691, §3,
is further amended to read:

 
C. The commissioner shall appoint the following officials
to serve at the commissioner's pleasure:

 
(1) Associate Commissioners;

 
(2) Superintendent, Augusta Mental Health Institute;

 
(3) Superintendent, Bangor Mental Health Institute;

 
(4) Superintendent, Pineland Center;

 
(5) Director, Mental Retardation Facility;

 
(6) Director, Elizabeth Levinson Center;

 
(7) Assistant to the Commissioner for Public
Information;

 
(8) Assistant to the Commissioner;

 
(10) Regional Directors, who shall report directly to
the commissioner; and

 
(11) Director, Office of Substance Abuse, who must be
an associate commissioner of the department.

 
The Director of the Office of Substance Abuse must be
reviewed by the joint standing committee of the Legislature
having jurisdiction over human resource matters prior to
taking office.

 
Sec. 6. Transition. Members of the State Board of Alcohol and Drug
Counselors within the Department of Professional and Financial
Regulation continue to serve as members of the State Board of
Alcohol and Drug Counselors in the Department of Mental Health,
Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services as established in
this Act until the expiration of their respective terms as
specified in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 6208-
A, subsection 2.

 
Sec. 7. Revisor's review; cross-references. The Revisor of Statutes shall
review the Maine Revised Statutes and include in the errors and
inconsistencies bill submitted to the Second Regular Session of
the 120th Legislature pursuant to Title 1, section 94 any
sections necessary to correct and update any cross-references in
the statutes to provisions of law repealed in this Act.

 
SUMMARY

 
This bill moves the operation of the State Board of Alcohol
and Drug Counselors from the Department of Professional and
Financial Regulation to the Office of Substance Abuse, which is
part of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
Substance Abuse Services. Current board members would continue
to serve their respective current terms on the board. This bill
also changes the position of Director of the Office of Substance
Abuse to an associate commissioner of the Department of Mental
Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.


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