Rules defining unprofessional conduct by marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and social workers

Proposed by the examining board, clearinghouse rule 19-166 established the following as constituting unprofessional conduct by a credential holder: 1) discriminating on the basis of gender, gender identity, or ethnicity; 2) failing to comply with child abuse reporting requirements; 3) engaging in sexual conduct with either a person taught, supervised, or instructed by the credential holder or with a former client; 4) taking unfair advantage of clients, students, supervisees, or professional relationships; 5) failing to notify the examining board of a conviction against the credential holder; 6) employing or promoting a treatment that attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity; 7) aiding or assisting an unlawful practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, or social work; 8) failing to obtain a client's written, informed consent before recording the client; 9) failing to adequately supervise subordinates; 10) refusing to cooperate in a timely manner with the examining board's investigations; and 11) withholding documentation of clinical experience hours completed by a person the credential holder supervises.

The bill is introduced as required by s. 227.19 (5) (g), stats., in support of the objection of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules to promulgation of clearinghouse rule 19-166 by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board. The proposed rule, as described above, made various changes to rules defining unprofessional conduct for marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and social workers.