WHAT IS SMI ?
In 2011, Louisiana lawmakers passed Act 320 that amended the Mental Health Counselors Act to require LPCs and LMFTs in the Louisiana to consult with medical professionals when
diagnosing and treating clients with certain mental and emotional disorders. Because of the long list of "serious mental illnesses" specified by Act 320, this controversial statute became
known as the "serious mental illness" provision or "SMI." While Act 320 was
intended to protect LPCs and LMFTs right to trade, both the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) and the Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (LAMFT) have concluded that the law in its current form is actually threatening licensees' position in the mental health marketplace and restricting the ability of consumers
to access the unique skills of counselors and marriage and family therapists.
For that reason, Senate Bill 38 will be introduced by Senator J.P. Morrell in this year's legislative session. When SB 38 is passed, it will remove the SMI restriction from the Mental Health Counselors Act as it pertains to LPCs, LMFTs, and Provisional Licensees. To find out more about SMI, why it must be removed from our law, and what you can
do to help pass SB 38, check out the links below!
​
THE LAW.
To download a reformatted copy of the sections of the
Mental Health Counselors Act that contain SMI . . . . . . . CLICK HERE!
THE RULES.
To download a reformatted copy of the sections of the
rules promulgated by the LPC Board to administer SMI . . . . . CLICK HERE!
WHY REMOVE SMI ?
To understand why your professional associations have
determined that SMI language must be removed . . . CLICK HERE!
WHAT CAN I DO ?
To know what you can do to protect your job, your right
to trade, and the public's access to your services . . . . . CLICK HERE!
BE INFORMED . . . TAKE ACTION!
Click below to find out all you need to know about SMI and what you can do to
protect your job, your right to trade, and the public's access to your services!
© 2023 by RRI.
