House Bill 746, “Amend Professional Counselors Act” to go before the House Finance Committee

May 5, 2009

Thanks in large part to the leadership shown by bill sponsor Representative Verla Insko, on April 28, 2009, the North Carolina House of Representatives State Government/State Personnel Committee gave a favorable report to House Bill 746, “Amend Professional Counselors Act.” The bill now goes before the House Finance Committee. If passed, this bill will make substantial improvements to the current Licensed Professional Counselors licensing statute, which has not been amended since its inception in 1994. Proposed changes to the statute include: (1) creation of a tiered license and establishment of criteria for Licensed Professional Counselor Associates; (2) clarification and strengthening of the class credits and experience required for licensure; (3) creation of criteria for Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisors; (4) revision of those exempt from licensure; (5) strengthening of the public safety provisions; and (6) provision for an increase in fees for licensure and renewal for the NCBLPC.

In order for us to gain continued support for this bill, it is imperative that members of the House Finance Committee hear from you. The members of the House Finance Committee are as follows:

• Senior Chairman Luebke (Durham)
• Chairman Gibson (Anson, Union)
• Chairman Rep. Wainwright (Craven, Lenoir)
• Chairman Weiss (Wake)
• Vice Chairman Hill (Brunswick, Columbus)
• Vice Chairman Holliman (Davidson)
• Vice Chairman Howard (Davie, Iredell)
• Vice Chairman McComas (New Hanover)
• Vice Chairman Womble (Forsyth)
• Rep. Alexander (Mecklenburg)
• Rep. Blackwood (Union)
• Rep. Blust (Guilford)
• Rep. Braxton (Greene, Lenoir, Wayne)
• Rep. Carney (Mecklenburg)
• Rep. Cotham (Mecklenburg)
• Rep. Faison (Caswell, Orange)
• Rep. Folwell (Forsyth)
• Rep. Hall (Durham)
• Rep. Hughes (New Hanover, Pender)
• Rep. Jones (Guilford)
• Rep. Lewis (Harnett)
• Rep. McCormick (Iredell, Surry, Yadkin)
• Rep. McGee (Forsyth)
• Rep. Owens (Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank, Tyrrell)
• Rep. Rhyne (Lincoln)
• Rep. Ross (Wake)
• Rep. Setzer (Catawba, Iredell)
• Rep. Stam (Wake)
• Rep. Starnes (Caldwell)
• Rep. Tillis (Mecklenburg)

You can find the contact information for each of these representatives along with information on the areas they represent at the North Carolina General Assembly’s website: www.ncleg.net. Click on the House tab at the top of the screen and then click House member list on the left side of the screen. If you are represented by a member of the House Finance Committee, it is especially important that that member hears from you. Please also take time to thank Rep. Verla Insko for her leadership and support of this bill.

We hope the LPC bill will be heard in the House Finance Committee in the next few days, so please plan to call or email this week!