Senate passes substitute bill to license counselors after technical fixes and debate

The Senate considered and passed Substitute Senate Bill 70, a bill that would create a licensure pathway for counselors seeking employment in agencies and programs (distinct from school counselor roles). The floor debate addressed technical corrections to prior amendments, the bill's scope, potential impacts on insurance billing, and whether licensing would allow counselors to bill third-party payers automatically.

Senators supporting the bill argued licensing will make counselors more competitive for jobs in agencies that rely on federal funds and will provide fairness in employment opportunities. A representative from the Department of Financial Institutions and other witnesses described prior committee negotiations and the decision to correct numbering and typographical errors in the amendment packet. Sponsors emphasized the bill does not require insurance carriers to reimburse newly licensed counselors automatically; any billing relationship would be negotiated with insurers.

Opponents warned the bill could create pathways for people without appropriate mental-health degrees to practice, urged clearer curricula and safeguards, and noted overlap with the Social Work Licensing Act. The Senate adopted multiple technical amendments (including page-and-line deletions and a correction replacing 'non standardized' with 'standardized' where appropriate) and approved the motion to adopt the set of amendments.

Final roll-call showed Sub. SB 70 passed with 15 ayes, 10 nays and 4 absent. The bill will be returned to the House for its further action.