Notice of Proposed Changes in the Regulations of the Board of Professional Counselors
Brief Description: The Board of Professional Counselors proposes to update regulations regarding approved degrees from accredited institution, licensure requirements, supervised experience, continuing education requirements, retention schedule, and code of ethics.
The Board of Professional Counselors (Board) proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 12, Chapter 62 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with approved degrees, license by credentials, supervised experience, continuing education requirements, and code of ethics, including the following:
- 12 AAC 62.120, Approved degrees, is proposed to be changed to alter the provisions relating to approved degrees from a regionally or nationally accredited institution or higher education approved by the board for professional counselors.
- 12 AAC 62.130, License by credentials, is proposed to be changed to alter the requirements for licensure by credentials.
- 12 AAC 62.220, Supervised experience, is proposed to be changed to alter the supervised experience requirements.
- 12 AAC 62.310, Continuing education requirements, is proposed to be changed to alter the continuing education requirements for renewal of a professional counselor license.
- 12 AAC 62.900, Code of Ethics, is proposed to be changed to adopt by reference a new code of ethics for professional counselors; and to establish a retention schedule for licensees clients’ records.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806. Additionally, the Board will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2974 and by electronic mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov. The comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 12, 2015. You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 or by e-mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Board will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available on the Board’s website at http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalCounselors.aspx or on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. The Board may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Jun Maiquis at (907) 465-2537 no later than June 5, 2015 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Jun Maiquis at the address or phone number above, or go to http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/portals/5/pub/PCO-0415.pdf After the public comment period ends, the Board will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments and questions received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory Authority: AS 08.29.020; AS 08.29.110; AS 08.29.120; AS 08.29.130; AS 08.29.140; AS 08.29.210; AS 08.29.400
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 08.29.020; AS 08.29.110; AS 08.29.120; AS 08.29.130; AS 08.29.140; AS 08.29.210; AS 08.29.400
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: 5/12/15
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Approved degrees, licensure requirements, supervised experience, continuing education requirements, retention schedule, and code of ethics:
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))
1. Adopting agency: Board of Professional Counselors – Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
2. General subject of regulation: Approved degrees, license by credentials, supervised experience, continuing education requirements, and code of ethics.
3. Citation of regulation: 12 AAC 62.120, 12 AAC 62.130, 12 AAC 62.220, 12 AAC 62.310, and 12 AAC 62.900.
4. Department of Law file number: To be assigned.
5. Reason for the proposed action: Update and clarification of current regulations.
6. Appropriation/Allocation: Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing – #2360.
7. Estimated costs in the aggregate to comply with the proposed action to:
a. Private Persons: None known.
b. Other State Agencies: None known
c. Municipalities: None known.
8. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars): No costs are expected in FY 2015 or in subsequent years.
9. The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Telephone: (907) 465-2537
E-mail: jun.maiquis@alaska.gov
10. The origin of the proposed action: Board of Professional Counselors.
11. Date: 5/12/15
Prepared by: Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist