Virginia Association of Clinical Counselors

HB1986 affecting LPCs PDF Print E-mail

Dear VACC members:

Delegate H. Morgan Griffith has proposed HB1986, which is summarized below, to include duly trained LPCs in the group of mental health professionals who can evaluate individuals who have been accused of an "abnormal sexual offense". This bill has passed through committee unanimously, and will come to a vote in the house of delegates soon. It would be very helpful if you would contact your delegate to note your support for this legislation. When the bill reaches the Senate, it will be assigned a new number and once again will need your support by contacting your senator.

The easiest way to contact your delegate or senator is to email them or call their office and talk to them directly or to an aide about your support. It is always helpful to copy a separate email to Delegate Griffith thanking him for his sponsoring this legislation. You can obtain the email address and, or telephone numbers for your delegates or senators by logging onto the web page for the Virginia General Assembly: http://legis.state.va.us

In your communications with delegates or senators, keep in mind such points as:

1. LPCs have at least a Masters degree (and many have an even higher degree such as an Educational Specialist or Doctoral degree)

2. LPCs complete thousands of hours of supervised clinical experience in addition to comprehensive graduate course work

3. Inclusion of properly trained LPCs in the legislation will allow for expediency in the evaluation of accused offenders

4. Because rural areas frequently have more LPCs than psychologists or psychiatrists, this legislation could help insure that our judicial and mental health systems have available a diverse pool of qualified professionals to provide needed services. (When these services are not available, a judge may find it necessary to order a defendant to be hospitalized at a state facility to obtain the necessary evaluation).

HB1986 proposes that:

"Who may conduct mental evaluation of a person convicted of a sexually abnormal offense.  Provides that a judge may order a defendant who is charged with a sexually abnormal offense to be examined by at least one psychiatrist or clinical psychologist or other duly licensed mental health professional who is qualified by specialized training and experience to perform such evaluations. Currently, the evaluation would have to be performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist only."

The Virginia Association of Clinical Counselors wants to thank all of you for your support in our efforts to support any legislation that enhances the professional value of our licensure, as well as increases our value to the citizens of our communities.

Roger Snapp-Laplace - VACC Legislative Committee Co-Chair

1115 First Street, SW
Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Office: 540-343-0004
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Last Updated on Monday, 14 March 2005 08:59
 
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