HB 361 revises Florida’s licensure framework for three mental health professions: clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling. The bill renames “registered intern” status as “registered associate intern” for these professions and updates the statutory definitions and registration provisions accordingly. It keeps the basic structure of supervised post-degree experience requirements, background screening, supervision plans, and qualified supervisors, while conforming related statutes to the new terminology.
The bill also removes the requirement that a licensed mental health professional be physically present on the premises when a registered associate intern provides clinical services in a private practice setting. Under the bill, associates still must practice under supervision, but the on-site presence mandate is eliminated. The bill preserves other licensure standards, including education, clinical experience, and title-use requirements, and it makes conforming changes to disciplinary, unlawful practice, exemption, and display-of-registration provisions. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 361 amends chapter 491, Florida Statutes, affecting the regulation of clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. Its main legal effect is to replace the term “registered intern” with “registered associate intern” across the licensing and enforcement provisions, while maintaining the supervised practice model for individuals completing required experience toward full licensure. The bill also changes private-practice supervision rules by eliminating the statutory requirement that a licensed mental health professional be on the premises during services provided by these associates, which may expand practice flexibility for supervised trainees and private practices.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill: it passed the House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee unanimously, 17-0. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate in the provided materials. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed favorably as a technical and workforce-related update to licensure rules for mental health professions.
Contention
The most notable policy change is the removal of the on-premises licensed professional requirement in private practice settings. Supporters would likely view this as reducing administrative burden and improving access to supervised training opportunities, while critics could be concerned about whether supervision remains sufficient to protect clients and ensure quality of care. A second point of possible concern is the terminology change from “intern” to “associate intern,” which is largely conforming but may require updates to forms, promotional materials, and compliance practices across the regulated professions.