Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Healthcare Workforce topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to collect workforce participation data, eases licensure reciprocity for marriage and family therapists
Summary
House Bill 79 passed with a committee substitute; sponsors said the measure directs licensure boards to collect active‑practice data (including telehealth) and creates an expedited pathway for out‑of‑state licensed marriage and family therapists who meet requirements.
The Senate committee gave House Bill 79 a favorable report after sponsors said the bill addresses Kentucky’s health‑care workforce shortage by collecting better data and by recognizing out‑of‑state licensed marriage and family therapists who meet state requirements.
Rep. Kim Mosier and Professor Dale Bergstrom presented the bill. Mosier said the measure directs professional licensing boards to capture workforce participation information — degree level, employment type and specialty, employment setting, active clinical employment status (including telehealth) and whether someone is working in their licensed field — so policymakers can better assess shortages.
The substitute also clarifies that the expedited licensure timeline for marriage and family therapists applies to both in‑state and out‑of‑state applicants and applies a “shot clock” requiring boards to act within the stated timeframe, sponsors said.
Senators asked for differences between the original bill and the substitute; sponsors said the sub extended the timeline provision to out‑of‑state applicants. One senator argued against more data collection without visible action on known problems and recorded a no vote on the bill, while others supported it and noted the need for better information.
The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill with a favorable report.
