Subject of Possible Rule Making: Supervisor directory and standards, and stipend program for licensure for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers. The department of health (department) is considering amending, repealing, or creating new sections in chapter 246-809 WAC, Licensure for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers. The department is considering establishing (1) a directory to help mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, and social worker associates find supervisors, (2) minimum standards for supervision of associates, and (3) a stipend program to offset some costs of supervision for associates.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: During the 2023 legislative session, the legislature passed 2SHB 1724 (chapter 425, Laws of 2023) to increase the behavioral health workforce by reducing barriers to licensure. To address the burden of obtaining supervised experience hours, section 7 of 2SHB 1724, codified as RCW 18.225.180, requires the department to adopt rules to establish a database of qualified supervisors and a stipend program for associates. To implement the bill, this rule-making project will consider rules establishing requirements to be listed on the directory, setting minimum standards to supervise associates, establishing requirements for the stipend program, and making other changes as appropriate.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Brandon Williams, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, phone 360-236-4700, TTY 711, email brandon.williams@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The department will be conducting rules workshops with interested parties and subject matter experts. The department will use the licensed counselor GovDelivery list to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language.

To subscribe to GovDelivery, please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions," and then click on "Licensed Counselors." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions listed to receive information related to that specific profession.