Expanded Counseling Discrimination bill filed

We are grateful to friends in the Senate who brought this to our attention.

An expanded version of the Counseling Discrimination law that passed in the 109th General Assembly has been filed. The very first bill filed in the Senate prevents state boards from referencing national codes of ethics in their rules such as the ethics standards of the American Counseling Association.

The bill also removes the word "principles" from the law and substitutes the much broader and more vague word "beliefs."

The impact is that the bill would allow counselors under even more circumstances to turn clients away. The proposed bill still requires counselors to make a referral, but in many areas that is a hardship on the client.

Support TEP's legislative work to fight back against SB1 at this link.

TEP has 3 Advancing Equality Days on the Hill planned for 2017. Sign up for Feb. 7, March 7, or April 4.

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Robin Lennon-Dearing commented 2016-12-06 12:26:46 -0600
SB0001 “prohibits the Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, and Clinical Pastoral Therapists from adopting any rule that incorporates by reference a national association’s code of ethics.” Why on earth would this make sense to anyone? Professional codes of ethics are for the protection of the public! Every licensed professional is bound by their discipline’s code of ethics. This bill is clearly an example of Senator Johnson attempting to legislate outside his scope of practice. How arrogant! He should be reported to the TN Professional Board for practicing without a license.
Robin Lennon-Dearing, PhD, MSW
Caleb Banks commented 2016-12-05 21:11:14 -0600
We will all prevail over these awful bills. Join is in our fight! #WithdrawSB1
Kate Zondlo Wingate posted about this on Facebook 2016-12-05 20:21:35 -0600
Expanded Counseling Discrimination bill filed
Suzanne Bateman commented 2016-12-05 17:05:56 -0600
Yes, the good bigoted and righteous Jack Johnson. It always fascinates me when the GOP advocates for God and smaller government, yet they always seem to craft the most hateful and unGod-like legislation against anyone other than old white males and their regulations are always expanding government. What is this all about .. oh, yes, of course, Hypocrisy … with a capital H.