It has been a challenging legislative session with a decreasing budget and some really hard decisions. We’ve been realistic in what we have asked for and fought against. The threat to the state’s mental health budget has materialized as the House balanced their future budget on the back of Montanans with mental illness and their families. (See article on the cuts - http://www.helenair.com/articles/2009/03/29/state/55st_090329_humanservices.txt). As we know, Montana already has an under funded and overburdened mental illness treatment system. We cannot afford to cut it back any more, especially since hard economic times typically lead to an increase in the need for services.

On a positive note, the Montana Senate’s Judiciary Committee’s leadership is strongly supporting funding of the trio of mental health crisis bills HB’s 130, 131, & 132 (See the article entitled “Senate Panel Moves Forward With Mental-Health Measures” http://helenair.com/articles/2009/04/07/top/60st_090407_mental.txt

We need for you, your friends, and family members to contact your Senators and ask them not to cut the state’s mental illness treatment budget and support mentally ill persons in crisis.

Contacting your Senators is straight-forward. Click on the following link to contact and send messages to which ever Senator you want. http://leg.mt.gov/css/About%20the%20Legislature/Lawmaking%20Process/contact%20legislators.asp

Other NASW MT 2009 Legislative News Issues

SB 235 (Expanding Montanans’ Access to Mental Health Care) would allow qualified LCSWs and LCPCs to tell the public that they administer psychological tests, evaluations, and assessments passed the House 74-26, and is on its way to the Governor to be signed. Passage of this bill represented a very productive collaboration with the Montana Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors Association. HB 530 Revising the definition of the practice of “social work” to clarify that the term includes “diagnosis” and “administering, evaluating, and assessing tests” passed the Senate and was submitted to the Governor for signing on April 1st. Thanks to all of our members for testifying on this very important piece of Social Work Legislation.

SB 271 (Marriage and Family Therapists) creating an MFT licensing category also passed the House and is headed to the floor for second reading. NASW Montana initially opposed this bill because it would have eliminated one of the Social Worker representatives on the Board of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors. This section was removed from the bill, but NASW MT remains very concerned as the educational requirements for an MFT are less, and, in other states MFT’s have attempted to restrict other mental health clinicians in stating they provide “marriage and family therapy” to those holding the MFT license. Our lobbyist and a couple of our Legislative Committee members are attempting to have a couple of amendments introduced on the House floor that would address these issues.

SB 235 (Expanding Montanans’ Access to Mental Health Care) would allow qualified LCSWs and LCPCs to tell the public that they administer psychological tests, evaluations, and assessments. Please review the link to the SB 235 talking points. SB 235 was heard by the Senate Public Senate Public, Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee on January 21st. The Committee took Executive Action on January 31st, and voted 6-1 to recommend approval of SB 235 to the Senate. SB 235 will be scheduled for Second (Debate Stage) Reading some time next week, and for third reading soon thereafter. Making direct contact with our Senators is vital and ask them to PLEASE VOTE “YES” ON SB 235.
Review the SB 235 Talking Points

SB 271 (Marriage and Family Therapists), on the other hand would create a new Marriage and Family Therapist licensing category. SB 271 reduces the number of social worker members of the licensure board from three members to two proposes that one of the Social Worker representative, and would place an unfair burden of work on the two social worker board members. Moreover, this change in board composition results in widely disproportionate representation of marriage and family therapists as there are many more licensed social workers than there would be licensed marriage and family therapists. SB 271 was heard by the Senate Public Senate Public, Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee on Friday, January 30th, and this committee has yet to take executive action on it. Review the SB 271 Talking Points

Please urge the Board of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors to delay the comment period and encourage a partnership between NASW MT and the Board to develop a mutually supportive implementation plan.

Your Legislative and Social Policy Committee, Chaired by Bill Evans

NASW Montana is backing bills to clarify and strengthen Clinical Social Workers Scope of Practice and support Montana Mental Health Service and Programs.