Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted 13 R cosponsors

AB 251 — Relating to: a tier I license issued by the Department of Public Instruction and modifying administrative rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction.

Last action — Published 3-23-2024

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 08, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Tony Evers (Democratic) on March 25, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 17 sponsors

    17 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (13 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

49 added · 34 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Assembly Bill 251 has introduced a new tier I license for clinically trained mental health professionals, which includes marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and social workers. This change matters because it broadens the range of qualified professionals who can work in public schools, ensuring that schools can access a diverse set of mental health experts to support students. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining client confidentiality, which is crucial in mental health services. Overall, these changes aim to improve the quality of mental health support available in educational settings.

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- 2024 LEGISLATURE LRBs0169/1 FFK:wlj ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 251 November 8, 2023 - Offered by Representative TEFFEN.
- 2024 LEGISLATURE LRB-1188/1 FFK:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 251 May 8, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives S TEFFEN, ARMSTRONG , BEHNKE , D ONOVAN, G OEBEN, G REEN, GUNDRUM , H URD, K ITCHENS, M ACCO, M OSES, M URSAU, NOVAK , LUMER , RETTINGER, SCHRAA and T USLER, cosponsored by Senators JAMES , BALLWEG, CABRAL-G UEVARA, COWLES , QUINN, TESTIN and TOMCZYK .
Referred to Committee on Children and Families.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, the state superintendent of public instruction must promulgate rules to license all teachers and individuals employed to provide publicly funded special education and related services in public schools.
Additionally, under current law, school boards must ensure that teachers, supervisors, administrators and professional staff members hold a license or permit issued by the Department of Public Instruction.
Similarly, under current law, charter school authorizers must ensure that all charter school instructional staff hold a license or permit issued by DPI.
Under current DPI administrative rules, an individual is eligible for a tier I license as a clinically trained social worker issued by DPI if the individual holds 1) a master's degree in social work and 2) a valid social work certificate or license issued by the social worker section of the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board.
This bill creates a similar tier I license issued by DPI for clinically trained marriage and family therapists.
Under the bill, an individual is eligible for such a tier I license if the individual holds 1) a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and 2) a valid marriage and family therapy certificate, training license, or clinical license issued by the marriage and family therapy section of the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and - 2024 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1188/1 FFK:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 251 social work examining board.
A tier I license is valid for one year but may be renewed.
Under the bill, a clinically trained marriage and family therapist license may be renewed as long as the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements for the license.
S ECTION 1.
SECTION 1.
PI 34.0375 of the administrative code is created to read:
PI 34.028 (2) (f) of the administrative code is created to read:
PI 34.0375 Tier I, clinically trained mental health professional license.
PI 34.028 (2) (f) Clinically trained marriage and family therapist.
(1) AUTHORIZATION.
Notwithstanding par.
A license issued under this section authorizes the license holder to work as a clinically trained mental health professional.
(a), for a tier I license as a clinically trained marriage and family therapist, the applicant holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and a valid marriage and family therapy certificate, training license, or clinical license issued by the marriage and family therapy section of the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board.
A license issued under this section does not authorize the license holder to work as a school social worker or a school counselor.
SECTION 2.
(2) ELIGIBILITYThe state superintendent may issue a tier I license under this section to an applicant who satisfies all of the following:
PI 34.028 (4) (d) of the administrative code is created to read:
LRBs0169/1 - 2024 Legislature - 2 - FFK:wlj S ECTION 1 (a) The applicant holds all of the following:
PI 34.028 (4) (d) A license under sub.
1.
(2) (f) may be renewed if the applicant continues to meet the requirements under sub.
A master's degree in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, social work, or a similar field.
(2) (f) and has not yet become eligible for tier II licensure under s.
2.
PI 34.040.
A valid clinical marriage and family therapy license, clinical professional counselor license, or clinical social worker license issued by the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board.
SECTION 3.Effective date.
(b) The applicant agrees to do all of the following:
1.
Store, safeguard, and dispose of client records in ways that maintain confidentiality and comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 45 CFR 164.502.
2.
Maintain accurate and adequate clinical and financial records in accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 45 CFR 164.502.
(3) D URATION.A license issued under this section is valid for 2 years.
(4) R ENEWAL.
A license issued under this section is renewable.
S ECTION 2.Effective date.
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Action History

  1. Published 3-23-2024

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 3-22-2024. 2023 Wisconsin Act 196

  3. Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2024

  4. Report correctly enrolled on 2-16-2024

  5. Received from Senate concurred in

  6. Ordered immediately messaged

  7. Read a third time and concurred in

  8. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  9. Ordered to a third reading

  10. Read a second time

  11. Placed on calendar 2-13-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  12. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  13. Available for scheduling

  14. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  15. Executive action taken

  16. Read first time and referred to committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families

  17. Received from Assembly

  18. Ordered immediately messaged

  19. Read a third time and passed

  20. Rules suspended

  21. Ordered to a third reading

  22. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  23. Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  24. Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  25. Read a second time

  26. Representatives Gustafson and O'Connor added as coauthors

  27. Placed on calendar 11-14-2023 by Committee on Rules

  28. Referred to committee on Rules

  29. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 11, Noes 1

  30. Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 11, Noes 1

  31. Executive action taken

  32. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Steffen

  33. Public hearing held

  34. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Steffen

  35. Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families

  36. Introduced by Representatives Steffen, Armstrong, Behnke, Donovan, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Hurd, Kitchens, Macco, Moses, Mursau, Novak, Plumer, Rettinger, Schraa and Tusler; cosponsored by Senators James, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Cowles, Quinn, Testin and Tomczyk

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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17 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 115 not signed on

Sponsors (17)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (115)

115 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 115 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors AB 251?
AB 251 is sponsored by Steffen, David (Republican), Armstrong, David (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Donovan, Bob (Republican), Goeben, Joy (Republican), Green, Chanz (Republican), Gundrum, Rick (Republican), Hurd, Karen (Republican), Kitchens, Joel (Republican), Macco, Moses, Clint (Republican), Mursau, Jeffrey (Republican), Novak, Todd (Republican), Plumer, Rettinger, Schraa, and Tusler, Ron (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 251?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 08, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track AB 251?
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