SACRAMENTO, California (July 13, 2010) - "In these challenging fiscal times, this is an opportunity to increase the protections afforded to the clients of alcohol and other drug counselors, increase the educational and other requirements to become a counselor, and all with virtually no cost to the taxpayer," explained Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) on his amendment to Senate Bill 686 on July 1.
A tireless advocate for collaborative strategies to increase the professionalization of the alcohol and drug abuse (AOD) counselor, Senator DeSaulnier has proposed the requirement of licensure for AOD counselors in private practice, utilizes the existing private-industry process to determine eligibility for licensure and certification by the State of California, and provides to the State enforcement agency - Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) - more authority to ensure compliance with the tougher certification and licensure standards.
"SB 686 will take advantage of the many years private-industry experience in determining and documenting the qualifications of AOD counselors, rather than impose that expense upon the already strained State budget," says DeSaulnier, of the bill's provisions to maintain the current State-regulated AOD counselor certification process, which was just recently enacted into State Regulations in 2005.
Senator DeSaulnier's amendment of SB 686 includes the results of an industry-wide collaborative "effort that includes treatment providers, AOD counselors, licensed professionals and educators," explains Bob Tyler, immediate past president of California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC), "all working together to protect the consumer, increase standards, and keep certification options available and the costs down for California alcohol and other drug counselors."
This collaborative effort was started by CAADAC, Breining Institute and California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR) - collectively known as the "CBC" - in an effort to make more workable a recent State proposal to comprehensively overhaul the existing AOD counselor certification laws. CAARR, Breining and CAADAC has each invested over twenty years and significant monies in the development and operation of their respective comprehensive training and certification systems.
"The current system of AOD counselor certification is working, and utilizes the many years experience of each of the State-approved and nationally-accredited certifying organizations," explained Susan Blacksher, Executive Director of CAARR. "SB 686 utilizes the current system and seeks to improve it by giving ADP much more authority to regulate and enforce the provisions of the system."
"As educators, we are very much in favor of increasing the educational and professional standards for AOD counselor certification," says Kathy L. Christopher, Dean of Academic Affairs for Breining Institute. "At the same time, we need to make certain that there are sufficient safeguards to maintain the availability of qualified counselors to provide those necessary services to clients, and we believe that Senator DeSaulnier's SB 686 amendments address both concerns."
Christopher was referring to the grandparenting provisions included in SB 686, providing the opportunity to all counselors certified by an existing ADP-approved certification agency to become certified by the State with no additional requirements. Professionals with advanced certifications from the ADP-approved agencies will also be considered for licensure under this proposal.
To review the current version of SB 686 To review the current version of SB 686 go to: https://ssl.capwiz.com/caadac/attachments/sb_686_bill_20100701_amended_asm_v98.pdf.
Questions or comments relating to SB 686 may be addressed to:
Senator DeSaulnier
senator.desaulnier@sen.ca.gov
California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC)
E-mail: counselors@caadac.org
California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR)
E-mail: caarr@caarr.org
Breining Institute
E-mail: college@breining.edu
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SB 707 was heard by the Appropriations Committee on May 11, 2009. The committee placed the bill into the suspense file. This means the bill will be reviewed for the fiscal impact while in suspense. The suspense process can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks. The committee will review the impact and determine whether or not to move the bill to the next committee. (There will not be any testimony during the determination process.) I will keep you updated throughout the legislative process.
--Rhonda Messamore, Executive Director
SB 707 will be heard in the Appropriations Committee on May 11, 2009. The hearing will commence at 11:00 am in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento CA. (The State Capital building is located on 10th and L Street.) This hearing does NOT include testimony from contituents; but you are welcome to attend.
- SB 707: Legislative Amendments of April 22, 2009 (This is the actual amended bill as written by the legislature.)
- SB 707: CAADAC Analysis and Recommendations
- CAADAC FAQ's (This is a brief one page Question & Answer Sheet.)
AB 239 Hearing June 11, 2008
As many of you know, AB 239 passed the Senate Business and Professions Committee on May 12, 2008 by a 7 to 2 vote! We still need your help. Our next hearing is in the Senate Health Committee on June 11, 2008 at the State Capital at 1:30pm in Room 4203. Please attend and voice your support -- it is extremely important that we have a large presence at this hearing!
Additionally, if your Senator is on the Health Committee please call him/her to voice your support. Listed below are the names of those on the Health Committee, along with their phone numbers, and the cities they represent. If you live in any of these cities, you are in a prime position to have a direct impact on the decision of this committee. Please call them at your ealiest convenience. Remember, if we fail to pass any of these committees, our bill is dead. Please do your part to ensure this doesn't happen! Thank you for your continued support and effort!
AB 1367 UPDATE: January 30, 2007
We are very sad to inform you that our bill did not make it out of appropriations. However, please be informed: this is not just another failed CAADAC licensure bill! We want to let you know that along with the incredibly skillful guidance of our lobbyist, Willie Guerrero, at Kahn, Soares and Conway, your legislative committee removed all of the influential opposition to the bill and, if it weren't for the dismal financial situation of California, all indications were that licensure would have become law this year. To let you know just how dismal the financial situation is, there were about 68 bills heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday, the cost of which totaled about 6 billion dollars. Only about 20 bills passed -- with a total price tag to the state of 1.5 million! Willie Guerrero summed it up for us in this way:
"As you may know by now, AB 1367 by Assemblyman DeSaulnier failed to pass out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. While acknowledging all the hard work that went into this legislation and other worthy bills, the committee held most legislation with even a minor fiscal impact on the state. This purely “fiscal” decision means that our licensure legislation, baring a reevaluation, will not become law this year. Nevertheless, we will continue to take our case to all legislators and fight for reconsideration of this important measure. If such efforts do not prove successful we can re-introduce our amended legislation in the next legislation session. Thank you all for your tremendous work on behalf of AB 1367. I look forward to continuing this important fight with you all in the months ahead."
It is also important for you to know that CAADAC's message has clearly been heard at the capitol, and most believe that it is only a matter of time before this important piece of legislation goes through. We will continue to explore our options and will continue the tremendous progress we've made toward our mission of ensuring that every alcoholic and addict seeking help receives it from highly qualified counselors.
On behalf of the Legislative Committee, we would like to acknowledge all of you who have contributed to this most important legislation. Thank you for your continued support and hard work!
The Appropriations Committee hearing for AB 1367, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Licensing Law is set for January 24, 2007 at 8:30am. The CAADAC Legislative Committee will represent CAADAC at the meeting. You are also welcome to attend! State Capital Building, Sacramento, CA Room 4202.
AB 1367 Alcoholism and Drug Counselor Licensing Law (DeSaulnier) passes through the Assembly Business and Professions Committee! Click here for more information.
CAADAC is requesting your presence on Jan. 15th at 9:00 am at the State Capital, Room 447. Click here for a map and further details.
CAADAC Prepares for Interim Hearing on AODA Counseling Profession
Rev. 9/19/07
CAADAC is now organizing materials and witnesses for an interim study committee focused on the profession of alcoholism and drug abuse counseling. This hearing will allow us to highlight for legislators the various problems associated with the provision of addiction counseling services in our great state – particularly in the private arena.
Join us for the hearing set for October 30th, 2007 in Monterey Park California. Click here for more information.
This opportunity differs substantially from a typical hearing where our side may only have five minutes to present key arguments. Rather we will be a key participant in a hearing that will likely last over two hours and explore a variety of issues of interest to anyone who provides counseling services in California. For example, the committee may examine the need for counselor standards and state oversight in the private arena; the adequacy of counselor standards in the public arena; best practices in other states and countries; and the roles and interplay of the various organizations that cater to the provision of addiction counselor services. We have proved the committee staff with recommendations on panel topics and participants whom we expect will receive substantial consideration.
Once that agenda has been established we will work with our contacts, CAADAC members and constituents to build interest in this important hearing. Having involvement by all interested constituents and individuals will expand our scope of influence beyond the legislature to the public at large and hopefully generate support for AB 1367!
All of this will prove critical and provide momentum as our licensure legislation resumes its path to the Governor’s desk in January, 2008.
More will be revealed in the near future, please get involved now! To send a letter of support for licensure click here!
CAADAC invites you to read about our licensure bill - AB 1367. click here!
2007 Licensure Bill AB1367 (Caution Big Download)
