Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 397 By: Bergstrom
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to professions and occupations;
7 amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 6001, as last amended
8 by Section 1, Chapter 89, O.S.L. 2023 (59 O.S. Supp.
8 2024, Section 6001), which relates to the State Board
9 of Behavioral Health Licensure; extending sunset
9 date; updating statutory language; providing an
10 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
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1 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 6001, as
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1 5 last amended by Section 1, Chapter 89, O.S.L. 2023 (59 O.S. Supp.
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1 6 2024, Section 6001), is amended to read as follows:
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17 Section 6001. A. 1. There is hereby re-created the State
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1 8 Board of Behavioral Health Licensure to continue until July 1, 2025
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1 9 July 1, 2026, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma
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2 0 Sunset Law.
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21 2. Members of the Board shall serve at the pleasure of and may
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2 2 be removed from office by the appointing authority. Members shall
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2 3 continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any vacancy
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1 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
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2 Four members shall constitute a quorum.
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3 3. The Board shall meet at least twice a year, but no more than
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4 four (4) times a year and shall elect a chair and a vice-chair vice
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5 chair from among its members. The Board shall only meet as required
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6 for:
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7 a. election of officers,
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8 b. establishment of meeting dates and times,
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9 c. rule development,
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10 d. review and recommendation, and
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11 e. adoption of nonbinding resolutions to the Board
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12 concerning matters brought before the Board.
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13 4. Special meetings may be called by the chair or by
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1 4 concurrence of any three members.
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15 B. 1. All members of the Board shall be knowledgeable of
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1 6 counseling issues. The Board shall be appointed by the Governor
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1 7 with the advice and consent of the Senate:
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18 a. four members who are licensed professional counselors,
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19 b. three members who are licensed family and marital
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20 therapists,
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21 c. two members who are licensed behavioral practitioners,
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22 and
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23 d. two members representing the public and possessing
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24 knowledge of counseling issues.
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1 2. Members of the Board shall serve for a period of three (3)
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2 years and may be removed at any time by the appointing authority.
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3 Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the appointing authority.
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4 A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the
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5 transaction of business.
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6 3. The members of the Board from each professional area of
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7 behavioral health counseling shall comprise separate committees and
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8 shall consult on professional issues within their respective areas
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9 of behavioral health counseling. Each committee shall recommend to
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1 0 the Board approval or disapproval of all licenses to be issued
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1 1 within its specialty. Each committee shall be authorized to
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1 2 recommend approval or disapproval of the examination requirements
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1 3 for all applicants for licensure in the respective area of
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1 4 behavioral health counseling, provide grading standards for
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1 5 examinations, and provide for other matters relating to licensure in
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1 6 that area of behavioral health counseling. Each committee may
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1 7 create advisory committees to consult on professional duties and
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1 8 responsibilities pursuant to the provisions of this section.
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19 4. Any and all recommendations, approvals, or disapprovals made
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2 0 by a committee pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not
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2 1 become effective without the approval of a majority of members of
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2 2 the Board.
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23 5. The jurisdictional areas of the Board shall include
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2 4 professional counseling licensing and practice issues, marital and
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Req. No. 1051 Page 3
1 family therapist licensing and practice issues, behavioral
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2 practitioner licensing and practice issues, and such other areas as
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3 authorized by the Licensed Professional Counselors Act.
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4 C. The Board shall not recommend rules for promulgation unless
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5 all applicable requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act
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6 have been followed including, but not limited to, notice, rule
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7 impact statements, and rule-making hearings.
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8 D. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation but
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9 may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their
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1 0 duties, as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act. The
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1 1 Board is authorized to utilize the conference rooms of and obtain
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1 2 administrative assistance from the State Board of Medical Licensure
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1 3 and Supervision as required.
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14 E. The Board is authorized and empowered to:
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15 1. Establish and maintain a system of licensure and
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1 6 certification pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed
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1 7 Professional Counselors Act;
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18 2. Adopt and enforce standards governing the professional
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1 9 conduct of persons licensed pursuant to the provisions of the
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2 0 Licensed Professional Counselors Act;
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21 3. Lease office space for the purpose of operating and
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2 2 maintaining a state office, and pay rent thereon; provided, however,
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2 3 such state office shall not be located in or directly adjacent to
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1 the office of any person licensed pursuant to the provisions of the
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2 Licensed Professional Counselors Act;
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3 4. Purchase office furniture, equipment, and supplies;
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4 5. Employ such office personnel as may be necessary, and fix
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5 and pay their salaries or wages;
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6 6. Contract with state agencies for the purposes of
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7 investigating written complaints regarding the conduct of persons
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8 licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Professional
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9 Counselors Act and obtaining administrative assistance as deemed
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1 0 necessary by the Executive Director; and
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11 7. Make such other expenditures as may be necessary in the
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1 2 performance of its duties.
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13 F. The Board shall employ an Executive Director. The Executive
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1 4 Director shall be authorized to:
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15 1. Employ and maintain an office staff;
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16 2. Enter into contracts on behalf of the Board; and
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17 3. Perform other duties on behalf of the Board as needed or
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1 8 directed.
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19 G. All employees and positions shall be placed in unclassified
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2 0 status, exempt from the provisions of the Oklahoma Personnel Act.
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21 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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22 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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2 3 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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1 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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2 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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4 60-1-1051 RD 1/14/2025 3:50:57 PM
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Req. No. 1051 Page 6Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.