An Act relating to the Board of Professional Counselors; relating to licensing of associate counselors; relating to marital and family therapists; relating to telehealth; relating to review organizations and permitting an emergency medical services provider to establish a review organization; relating to patient records; relating to disclosure and reporting of health care services, prices, and fee information; relating to the health care professionals workforce enhancement program; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against associate counselors; relating to medical assistance for professional counseling services; relating to mental health professionals; relating to health care provider liability; and providing for an effective date.
HB 126 updates the regulations for mental health professionals in Alaska, specifically expanding the Board of Professional Counselors' authority to license associate counselors and set standards for their supervisors. The bill clarifies the definition of "health care provider" to include various licensed counselors and establishes new requirements for how these professionals must display their titles in advertising and signage. Additionally, it mandates that group health insurance plans cannot unfairly discriminate against associate counselors and requires the disclosure of health care service prices and fees. The legislation also addresses telehealth practices, patient record management, and liability issues for health care providers.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
Oct 2024
Introduced Mar 22, 2023
Signed Oct 9, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
94
Key actions
11
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Oct 9, 2024
Signed into law
(H) Signed into law 8/30 CHAPTER 44 SLA 24
lower
May 15, 2024
Lower · Passed
(H) CONCURRED AM OF (S) Y37 N1 A2
lower
May 15, 2024
Upper · Passed
(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
upper
May 15, 2024
Upper · Passed
(S) PASSED Y17 N1 A2
upper
May 15, 2024
Upper · Passed
(S) AM NO 2 ADOPTED UC
upper
May 15, 2024
Amended
(S) AM NO 1 FAILED Y8 N11 A1
upper
May 13, 2024
Upper · Passed
(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC
upper
May 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved SCS HB 126(FIN) Out of Committee
upper
Mar 18, 2024
Lower · Passed
(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
lower
Mar 18, 2024
Lower · Passed
(H) PASSED Y38 N1 E1
lower
Mar 5, 2024
Lower · Passed
(H) Moved HB 126 Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
lower
May 3, 2023
Committee
(H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C
lower
May 1, 2023
Lower · Passed
(H) Moved HB 126 Out of Committee
lower
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Stanley Wright
RRepublican
Co
Alyse Galvin
IIndependent
Co
Andi Story
DDemocratic
Co
Cathy Giessel
RRepublican
Co
Dan Saddler
RRepublican
Co
David Wilson
RRepublican
Co
Forrest Dunbar
DDemocratic
Co
James Kaufman
RRepublican
Co
Justin Ruffridge
RRepublican
Co
Kelly Merrick
RRepublican
Co
Matt Claman
DDemocratic
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