An Act to further enhance behavioral health workforce development

This bill requires Massachusetts state departments to update job classifications to fully include Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs) in their official job descriptions. It directly affects the Departments of Mental Health, Youth Services, Children and Families, Public Health, and Personnel Administration, as well as LMHCs and LSMHCs working in state roles. The key mechanism mandates that all relevant state job postings under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services must reflect these updated classifications by September 1, 2023. This change ensures state hiring practices formally recognize the full scope of practice for these mental health professionals.