109 HR 5396 IH: Veterans Mental Health Care Access U.S. House of Representatives 2006-05-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5396 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2006 Mr. Moran of Kansas (for himself and Mr. Michaud) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to employ additional categories of mental health professionals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Mental Health Care Access Improvement Act of 2006.

2.

Authority for department of veterans affairs to employ additional categories of mental health providers

Section 7402(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (12); and (2)by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraphs: (10)

Marriage and family therapist

To be eligible to be appointed to a licensed mental health counselor position, a person must— (A)hold a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, or a comparable degree in mental health, from a college or university approved by the Secretary; and (B)be licensed or certified to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State, except that the Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure or certification for an individual marriage and family therapist for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under Secretary for Health. (11)

Licensed mental health counselor

To be eligible to be appointed to a position as a licensed mental health counselor, a person must— (A)hold a master’s degree in mental health counseling, or a related field, from a college or university approved by the Secretary; and (B)be licensed or certified to independently practice mental health counseling in a State, except that the Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure or certification for an individual licensed mental health counselor for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under Secretary for Health. .