Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers intends to consider amending 18VAC65-40, Regulations for the Funeral Service Internship Program. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) require training to be completed within not less than 18 months nor more than 60 months, and that the board only consider extensions for extenuating circumstances; (ii) require supervisors to register for supervision of each funeral service intern, with an expiration for the registration after 60 months or at the completion of the intern's training, whichever occurs first, in order to allow the board to track active supervisors and make sure supervisors are in good standing; and (iii) add a requirement that interns be identified to the public as interns in titles, correspondence, and communications with the public. Amendments for clarifications and to reduce the number of internship hours currently required also may be considered.

This Notice of Intended Regulatory Action serves as the report of the findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2817 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Corie Tillman-Wolf, Executive Director, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4424, FAX (804) 527-4637, or email corie.wolf@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Counseling intends to consider amending 18VAC115-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling, 18VAC115-30, Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants, 18VAC115-50, Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, and 18VAC115-60, Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) specify in the regulations that the standard of practice requiring persons licensed, certified, or registered by the board to "Practice in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare" precludes the provision of conversion therapy and (ii) define what comprises conversion therapy and what does not. The goal is to align regulations of the board with the stated policy and ethics for the profession of counseling.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

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

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Counseling intends to consider amending 18VAC115-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling, 18VAC115-30, Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants, 18VAC115-50, Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, and 18VAC115-60, Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) specify in the regulations that the standard of practice requiring persons licensed, certified, or registered by the board to "Practice in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare" precludes the provision of conversion therapy and (ii) define what comprises conversion therapy and what does not. The goal is to align regulations of the board with the stated policy and ethics for the profession of counseling.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

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

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Counseling intends to consider amending 18VAC115-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling, 18VAC115-30, Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants, 18VAC115-50, Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, and 18VAC115-60, Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) specify in the regulations that the standard of practice requiring persons licensed, certified, or registered by the board to "Practice in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare" precludes the provision of conversion therapy and (ii) define what comprises conversion therapy and what does not. The goal is to align regulations of the board with the stated policy and ethics for the profession of counseling.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

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

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Counseling intends to consider amending 18VAC115-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling, 18VAC115-30, Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants, 18VAC115-50, Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, and 18VAC115-60, Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) specify in the regulations that the standard of practice requiring persons licensed, certified, or registered by the board to "Practice in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare" precludes the provision of conversion therapy and (ii) define what comprises conversion therapy and what does not. The goal is to align regulations of the board with the stated policy and ethics for the profession of counseling.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

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

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Psychology intends to consider amending 18VAC125-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Psychology. The purpose of the proposed action is to align regulations of the board with stated policy and ethics for the profession by (i) specifying in 18VAC125-20-150 that the standard of practice requiring licensed psychologists to "avoid harming patients or clients, research participants, students and others for whom they provide professional services and minimize harm when it is foreseeable and unavoidable," precludes conversion therapy and (ii) defining what comprises conversion therapy and what does not.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

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

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Psychology, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 327-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Social Work intends to consider amending 18VAC140-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) specify in the regulation that the requirement that a person licensed or registered by the board not conduct "one's practice in such a manner so as to make the practice a danger to the health and welfare of one's clients or to the public" precludes the provision of conversion therapy and (ii) define what comprises conversion therapy and what does not. The goal is to align regulations of the board with the stated policy and ethics for the profession of social work.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

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

Public Comment Deadline: August 7, 2019.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Social Work, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.