TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF COUNSELING

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC115-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Willard Vaughn.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend regulations for residents in counseling to prohibit promoting or advertising their services independently to solicit business from the public.

Agency Decision: Request denied.

Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on February 8, 2019, the board discussed the request to amend regulations and all comment received. The board concurred with many of the comments in opposition and voted not to initiate rulemaking at this time. A letter was sent to the petitioner to inform him of the board's decision.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R19-16; Filed February 12, 2019, 9:12 a.m.

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC115-50. Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Jamie West.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To count up to 600 hours of supervised experience in a Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs doctoral program toward hours of residency.

Agency Decision: Request granted.

Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on February 8, 2019, the board discussed the request to amend regulations and all comment received. The board voted to submit a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) to initiate rulemaking and receive further information and comment. Once the NOIRA is approved by the Governor, it will be published and a 30-day public comment period will be opened. The regulatory process typically takes 18 months to complete. The petitioner was advised to follow its progress on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R19-17; Filed February 12, 2019, 9:18 a.m.