Resolve, Directing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation To Amend Its Rules Governing Pastoral Counselors

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order for decisions regarding licensing of pastoral counselors to be made in a timely fashion; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure to amend rules. Resolved: That the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure shall amend its rules governing licensed pastoral counselors to provide that the requirement for 400 contact hours in clinical pastoral education in a program accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education be changed to a requirement for 400 contact hours in clinical pastoral education in a program accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education or an equivalent organization or a nonaccredited program determined equivalent by the board. Rulemaking undertaken pursuant to this resolve is routine technical rulemaking as described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and be it further

Sec. 2. Application. Resolved: That the rules as amended pursuant to this resolve apply to an application for a license as a pastoral counselor filed from April 1, 2009 to June 1, 2009. Application materials that have been previously submitted to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure are not required to be resubmitted for new applications during this time period.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.