Florida 2022 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 R · 3 D cosponsors

HB 343 — Mental Health Professional Licensure

Last action — Laid on Table; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 566 (Ch. 2022-29), CS/CS/SB 768 (Ch. 2022-71)

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

This bill died with 2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Mental Health Professional Licensure; Revises licensing requirements for clinical social workers, marriage & family therapists, & mental health counselors.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

250 added · 332 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill HB 343 focuses specifically on the licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists, while removing references to clinical social workers and mental health counselors. This narrow focus aims to clarify and streamline the process for those seeking to become licensed marriage and family therapists in Florida. The changes matter because they help ensure that applicants have the right educational background and qualifications necessary to provide effective therapy services, which can ultimately improve mental health support for individuals and families.

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 A bill to be entitled An act relating to mental health professional licensure;
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 A bill to be entitled An act relating to mental health professional licensure;
revising licensing requirements for clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors;
revising licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors;
Subsections (1), (3), and (4) of section 491.005, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
Subsections (3) and (4) of section 491.005, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
491.005 Licensure by examination.— (1) CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK.—Upon verification of documentation and payment of a fee not to exceed $200, as set by board rule, plus the actual per applicant cost to the department for purchase of the examination from the American Association of State Social Worker's Boards or a similar national organization, the department shall issue a license as a clinical social worker to an applicant whom who the board certifies has met all of the following criteria:
491.005 Licensure by examination.— (3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.—Upon verification of documentation and payment of a fee not to exceed $200, as set by board rule, plus the actual cost of the purchase of the examination from the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board, or similar national organization, the department shall issue a license as a marriage and family therapist to an applicant who the board certifies has met all of the following criteria:
Has Received a doctoral degree in social work from a graduate school of social work which at the time the applicant graduated was accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by Page 1of 13 CODING:
Words strickenare deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 the United States Department of Education or has received a master's degree in social work from a graduate school of social work which at the time the applicant graduated:
a.
Was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;
b.
Was accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work;
or c.
Has been determined to have been a program equivalent to programs approved by the Council on Social Work Education by the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education.
An applicant who graduated from a program at a university or college outside of the United States or Canada must present documentation of the equivalency determination from the council in order to qualify.
2.
The applicant's graduate program must have emphasized direct clinical patient or client health care services, including, but not limited to, coursework in clinical social work, psychiatric social work, medical social work, social casework, psychotherapy, or group therapy.
The applicant's graduate program must have included all of the following coursework:
a.
A supervised field placement which was part of the applicant's advanced concentration in direct practice, during which the applicant provided clinical services directly to clients.
b.
Completion of 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in Page 2of 13 CODING:
Words strickenare deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 theory of human behavior and practice methods as courses in clinically oriented services, including a minimum of one course in psychopathology, and no more than one course in research, taken in a school of social work accredited or approved pursuant to subparagraph 1.
3.
If the course title which appears on the applicant's transcript does not clearly identify the content of the coursework, the applicant shall be required to provide additional documentation, including, but not limited to, a syllabus or catalog description published for the course.
(c) Has Had at least 2 years of clinical social work experience, which took place subsequent to completion of a graduate degree in social work at an institution meeting the accreditation requirements of this section, under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker or the equivalent who is a qualified supervisor as determined by the board.
An individual who intends to practice in Florida to satisfy clinical experience requirements must register pursuant to s.
491.0045 before commencing practice.
If the applicant's graduate program was not a program which emphasized direct clinical patient or client health care services as described in subparagraph (b)2., the supervised experience requirement must take place after the applicant has completed a minimum of 15 semester hours or 22 quarter hours of the coursework required.
A doctoral internship may be applied toward the clinical social Page 3of 13 CODING:
Words strickenare deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 work experience requirement.
A licensed mental health professional must be on the premises when clinical services are provided by a registered intern in a private practice setting.
(d) Has Passed a theory and practice examination designated by the board provided by the department for this purpose.
(e) Has Demonstrated, in a manner designated by board rule of the board, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling.
(3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.—Upon verification of documentation and payment of a fee not to exceed $200, as set by board rule, plus the actual cost of the purchase of the examination from the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board, or similar national organization, the department shall issue a license as a marriage and family therapist to an applicant who the board certifies has met all of the following criteria:
(a) Has Submitted an application and paid the appropriate fee.
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(b)1.
A minimum of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education;
A minimum of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Page 1of 10 CODING:
b.
A minimum of a master's degree with a major emphasis in Page 4of 13 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a university program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and graduate courses approved by the board;
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education;
b.
A minimum of a master's degree with a major emphasis in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a university program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and graduate courses approved by the board;
The required master's degree must have been received in an institution of higher education that, at the time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation or publicly recognized as a member Page 5of 13 CODING:
The required master's degree must have been received in an institution of higher education that, at the time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or Page 2of 10 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 in good standing with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, or an institution of higher education located outside the United States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 its successor organization Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation or publicly recognized as a member in good standing with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, or an institution of higher education located outside the United States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
An applicant with a master's degree from a program that did not emphasize marriage and family therapy may complete the coursework requirement in a training institution fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Page 6of 13 CODING:
An applicant with a master's degree from a program that did not emphasize marriage and family therapy may complete the Page 3of 10 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 Family Therapy Education recognized by the United States Department of Education.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 coursework requirement in a training institution fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Within the 2 years of required experience, the applicant shall provide direct individual, group, or family therapy and counseling to cases including those involving unmarried dyads, married couples, separating and divorcing couples, and family groups that include children.
Within the 2 years of required experience, the applicant shall provide direct individual, group, or family therapy and counseling to cases including those involving unmarried dyads, married couples, Page 4of 10 CODING:
A doctoral internship may be applied toward the Page 7of 13 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 clinical experience requirement.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 separating and divorcing couples, and family groups that include children.
A doctoral internship may be applied toward the clinical experience requirement.
(b)1.
Page 5of 10 CODING:
Attained Has a minimum of an earned master's degree from a mental health counseling program accredited by the Page 8of 13 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs which consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours of clinical and didactic instruction, including a course in human sexuality and a course in substance abuse.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 (b)1.
Attained Has a minimum of an earned master's degree from a mental health counseling program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs which consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours of clinical and didactic instruction, including a course in human sexuality and a course in substance abuse.
Courses in research, thesis or dissertation work, practicums, internships, or fieldwork may not be applied toward this requirement.
Courses in research, thesis or dissertation work, practicums, internships, or fieldwork may not be applied Page 6of 10 CODING:
b.
A minimum of 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of Page 9of 13 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 graduate-level coursework addressing diagnostic processes, including differential diagnosis and the use of the current diagnostic tools, such as the current edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 toward this requirement.
b.
A minimum of 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of graduate-level coursework addressing diagnostic processes, including differential diagnosis and the use of the current diagnostic tools, such as the current edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Education and training in mental health counseling must have been received in an institution of higher education that, at the time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor Page 10 of13 CODING:
Education and training in mental health counseling must have been received in an institution of higher education that, at the time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an Page 7of 10 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 organization or publicly recognized as a member in good standing with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, or an institution of higher education located outside the United States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization or publicly recognized as a member in good standing with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, or an institution of higher education located outside the United States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by an institutional a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization.
Beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant must have a master's degree from a program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council, or an equivalent accrediting body which consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours to Page 11 of13 CODING:
Beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant must have a master's degree from a program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Page 8of 10 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 apply for licensure under this paragraph.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 Accreditation Council, or an equivalent accrediting body which consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours to apply for licensure under this paragraph.
(e) Has Demonstrated, in a manner designated by board rule, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of Page 12 of13 CODING:
Page 9of 10 CODING:
hb0343-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB343 2022 clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling.
hb0343-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB343 2022 (e) Has Demonstrated, in a manner designated by board rule, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling.
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hb0343-02-c2
hb0343-01-c1
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Action History

  1. Laid on Table; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 566 (Ch. 2022-29), CS/CS/SB 768 (Ch. 2022-71)

  2. Substituted CS/SB 566

  3. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2022)

  4. Added to Second Reading Calendar

  5. Bill referred to House Calendar

  6. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)

  7. CS Filed

  8. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

  9. Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee

  10. Favorable with CS by Health & Human Services Committee

  11. Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda

  12. Now in Health & Human Services Committee

  13. Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

  14. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

  15. CS Filed

  16. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

  17. Reported out of Professions & Public Health Subcommittee

  18. Favorable with CS by Professions & Public Health Subcommittee

  19. 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  20. Added to Professions & Public Health Subcommittee agenda

  21. Now in Professions & Public Health Subcommittee

  22. Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

  23. Referred to Professions & Public Health Subcommittee

  24. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 156 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (156)

156 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Favorable With Committee Substitute (Health & Human Services Committee)

Passed 20 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 11001
Democrat 5000
Unaffiliated 4000
Total 20001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Altman — Yea
Brown — Yea
Duran — Yea
Grant — Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Rayner, Michele K. Democrat Yea
Robinson, Felicia Simone Democrat Yea
Skidmore, Kelly Democrat Yea
Tant, Allison Democrat Yea
Botana, Adam Republican Yea
Buchanan, James Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Garrison, Sam Republican Yea
Koster, Traci Republican Yea
Massullo, Ralph E., Jr. Republican Yea
Melo, Lauren Republican Yea
Persons-Mulicka, Jenna Republican Yea
Rizo, Alex Republican Yea
Robinson Jr., William Cloud "Will" Republican Yea
Sirois, Tyler I. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Favorable With Committee Substitute (Professions & Public Health Subcommittee)

Passed 17 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 10000
Democrat 5001
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 17001
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Fernandez-Barquin — Yea
Rommel — Yea
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Eskamani, Dr. Anna V. Democrat Yea
Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat Not Voting
Rayner, Michele K. Democrat Yea
Skidmore, Kelly Democrat Yea
Smith, Carlos Guillermo Democrat Yea
Andrade, Robert Alexander "Alex" Republican Yea
Borrero, David Republican Yea
Garrison, Sam Republican Yea
Maggard, Randall Scott "Randy" Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Yea
Rizo, Alex Republican Yea
Robinson Jr., William Cloud "Will" Republican Yea
Sirois, Tyler I. Republican Yea
Snyder, John Republican Yea
Tuck, Kaylee Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 343 do?
Mental Health Professional Licensure; Revises licensing requirements for clinical social workers, marriage & family therapists, & mental health counselors.
Who sponsors HB 343?
HB 343 is sponsored by Health and Human Services Committee, Professions and Public Health Subcommittee, Koster, Traci (Republican), Hunschofsky, Christine (Democrat), Eskamani, Dr. Anna V. (Democrat), Mooney Jr., James Vernon "Jim" (Republican), Salzman, Michelle (Republican), and Tant, Allison (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 343?
This bill died with 2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 343?
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