To amend sections 125.22, 2151.421, 2317.02, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.05, 4757.06, 4757.07, 4757.10, 4757.101, 4757.11, 4757.12, 4757.15, 4757.16, 4757.17, 4757.18, 4757.19, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.301, 4757.31, 4757.32, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.361, 4757.38, 4757.40, 4757.43, and 4757.44 and to enact sections 4757.45 to 4757.49 of the Revised Code to regulate the practice of art therapy.

Section 1. That sections 125.22, 2151.421, 2317.02, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.05, 4757.06, 4757.07, 4757.10, 4757.101, 4757.11, 4757.12, 4757.15, 4757.16, 4757.17, 4757.18, 4757.19, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.301, 4757.31, 4757.32, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.361, 4757.38, 4757.40, 4757.43, and 4757.44 be amended and sections 4757.45, 4757.46, 4757.47, 4757.48, and 4757.49 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 125.22.  (A) The department of administrative services shall establish the central service agency to perform routine support for the following boards and commissions:

(1) Architects board;

(2) Barber board;

(3) State chiropractic board;

(4) State board of cosmetology;

(5) Accountancy board;

(6) State dental board;

(7) State board of optometry;

(8) Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board;

(9) State board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors;

(10) State board of sanitarian registration;

(11) Board of embalmers and funeral directors;

(12) State board of psychology;

(13) Ohio optical dispensers board;

(14) Board of speech pathology and audiology;

(15) Counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board;

(16) State veterinary medical licensing board;

(17) Ohio board of dietetics;

(18) Commission on Hispanic-Latino affairs;

(19) Ohio respiratory care board;

(20) Ohio commission on African-American males;

(21) Chemical dependency professionals board.

(B)(1) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, the agency shall perform the following routine support services for the boards and commissions named in division (A) of this section unless the controlling board exempts a board or commission from this requirement on the recommendation of the director of administrative services:

(a) Preparing and processing payroll and other personnel documents;

(b) Preparing and processing vouchers, purchase orders, encumbrances, and other accounting documents;

(c) Maintaining ledgers of accounts and balances;

(d) Preparing and monitoring budgets and allotment plans in consultation with the boards and commissions;

(e) Other routine support services that the director of administrative services considers appropriate to achieve efficiency.

(2) The agency may perform other services which a board or commission named in division (A) of this section delegates to the agency and the agency accepts.

(3) The agency may perform any service for any professional or occupational licensing board not named in division (A) of this section or any commission if the board or commission requests such service and the agency accepts.

(C) The director of administrative services shall be the appointing authority for the agency.

(D) The agency shall determine the fees to be charged to the boards and commissions, which shall be in proportion to the services performed for each board or commission.

(E) Each board or commission named in division (A) of this section and any other board or commission requesting services from the agency shall pay these fees to the agency from the general revenue fund maintenance account of the board or commission or from such other fund as the operating expenses of the board or commission are paid. Any amounts set aside for a fiscal year by a board or commission to allow for the payment of fees shall be used only for the services performed by the agency in that fiscal year. All receipts collected by the agency shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the central service agency fund, which is hereby created. All expenses incurred by the agency in performing services for the boards or commissions shall be paid from the fund.

(F) Nothing in this section shall be construed as a grant of authority for the central service agency to initiate or deny personnel or fiscal actions for the boards and commissions.

Sec. 2151.421.  (A)(1)(a) No person described in division (A)(1)(b) of this section who is acting in an official or professional capacity and knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in a similar position to suspect, that a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired child under twenty-one years of age has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the child shall fail to immediately report that knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect to the entity or persons specified in this division. Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, the person making the report shall make it to the public children services agency or a municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred. In the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, the person making the report shall make it to the entity specified in that section.

(b) Division (A)(1)(a) of this section applies to any person who is an attorney; physician, including a hospital intern or resident; dentist; podiatrist; practitioner of a limited branch of medicine as specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code; registered nurse; licensed practical nurse; visiting nurse; other health care professional; licensed psychologist; licensed school psychologist; independent marriage and family therapist or marriage and family therapist; art therapist; speech pathologist or audiologist; coroner; administrator or employee of a child day-care center; administrator or employee of a residential camp or child day camp; administrator or employee of a certified child care agency or other public or private children services agency; school teacher; school employee; school authority; person engaged in social work or the practice of professional counseling; agent of a county humane society; person, other than a cleric, rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religion; employee of a county department of job and family services who is a professional and who works with children and families; superintendent, board member, or employee of a county board of mental retardation; investigative agent contracted with by a county board of mental retardation; employee of the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities; employee of a facility or home that provides respite care in accordance with section 5123.171 of the Revised Code; employee of a home health agency; employee of an entity that provides homemaker services; a person performing the duties of an assessor pursuant to Chapter 3107. or 5103. of the Revised Code; or third party employed by a public children services agency to assist in providing child or family related services.

(2) Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, an attorney or a physician is not required to make a report pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section concerning any communication the attorney or physician receives from a client or patient in an attorney-client or physician-patient relationship, if, in accordance with division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code, the attorney or physician could not testify with respect to that communication in a civil or criminal proceeding.

(3) The client or patient in an attorney-client or physician-patient relationship described in division (A)(2) of this section is deemed to have waived any testimonial privilege under division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code with respect to any communication the attorney or physician receives from the client or patient in that attorney-client or physician-patient relationship, and the attorney or physician shall make a report pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section with respect to that communication, if all of the following apply:

(a) The client or patient, at the time of the communication, is either a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired person under twenty-one years of age.

(b) The attorney or physician knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in similar position to suspect, as a result of the communication or any observations made during that communication, that the client or patient has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the client or patient.

(c) The abuse or neglect does not arise out of the client's or patient's attempt to have an abortion without the notification of her parents, guardian, or custodian in accordance with section 2151.85 of the Revised Code.

(4)(a) No cleric and no person, other than a volunteer, designated by any church, religious society, or faith acting as a leader, official, or delegate on behalf of the church, religious society, or faith who is acting in an official or professional capacity, who knows, or has reasonable cause to believe based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in a similar position to believe, that a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired child under twenty-one years of age has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the child, and who knows, or has reasonable cause to believe based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in a similar position to believe, that another cleric or another person, other than a volunteer, designated by a church, religious society, or faith acting as a leader, official, or delegate on behalf of the church, religious society, or faith caused, or poses the threat of causing, the wound, injury, disability, or condition that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect shall fail to immediately report that knowledge or reasonable cause to believe to the entity or persons specified in this division. Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, the person making the report shall make it to the public children services agency or a municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred. In the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, the person making the report shall make it to the entity specified in that section.

(b) Except as provided in division (A)(4)(c) of this section, a cleric is not required to make a report pursuant to division (A)(4)(a) of this section concerning any communication the cleric receives from a penitent in a cleric-penitent relationship, if, in accordance with division (C) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code, the cleric could not testify with respect to that communication in a civil or criminal proceeding.

(c) The penitent in a cleric-penitent relationship described in division (A)(4)(b) of this section is deemed to have waived any testimonial privilege under division (C) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code with respect to any communication the cleric receives from the penitent in that cleric-penitent relationship, and the cleric shall make a report pursuant to division (A)(4)(a) of this section with respect to that communication, if all of the following apply:

(i) The penitent, at the time of the communication, is either a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired person under twenty-one years of age.

(ii) The cleric knows, or has reasonable cause to believe based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in a similar position to believe, as a result of the communication or any observations made during that communication, the penitent has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the penitent.

(iii) The abuse or neglect does not arise out of the penitent's attempt to have an abortion performed upon a child under eighteen years of age or upon a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired person under twenty-one years of age without the notification of her parents, guardian, or custodian in accordance with section 2151.85 of the Revised Code.

(d) Divisions (A)(4)(a) and (c) of this section do not apply in a cleric-penitent relationship when the disclosure of any communication the cleric receives from the penitent is in violation of the sacred trust.

(e) As used in divisions (A)(1) and (4) of this section, "cleric" and "sacred trust" have the same meanings as in section 2317.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) Anyone who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances to suspect, that a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired person under twenty-one years of age has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or other condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the child may report or cause reports to be made of that knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect to the entity or persons specified in this division. Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, a person making a report or causing a report to be made under this division shall make it or cause it to be made to the public children services agency or to a municipal or county peace officer. In the circumstances described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, a person making a report or causing a report to be made under this division shall make it or cause it to be made to the entity specified in that section.

(C) Any report made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section shall be made forthwith either by telephone or in person and shall be followed by a written report, if requested by the receiving agency or officer. The written report shall contain:

(1) The names and addresses of the child and the child's parents or the person or persons having custody of the child, if known;

(2) The child's age and the nature and extent of the child's injuries, abuse, or neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed, as applicable, to have occurred or of the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed, as applicable, to exist, including any evidence of previous injuries, abuse, or neglect;

(3) Any other information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury, abuse, or neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed, as applicable, to have occurred or of the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed, as applicable, to exist.

Any person, who is required by division (A) of this section to report child abuse or child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred, may take or cause to be taken color photographs of areas of trauma visible on a child and, if medically indicated, cause to be performed radiological examinations of the child.

(D) As used in this division, "children's advocacy center" and "sexual abuse of a child" have the same meanings as in section 2151.425 of the Revised Code.

(1) When a municipal or county peace officer receives a report concerning the possible abuse or neglect of a child or the possible threat of abuse or neglect of a child, upon receipt of the report, the municipal or county peace officer who receives the report shall refer the report to the appropriate public children services agency.

(2) When a public children services agency receives a report pursuant to this division or division (A) or (B) of this section, upon receipt of the report, the public children services agency shall do both of the following:

(a) Comply with section 2151.422 of the Revised Code;

(b) If the county served by the agency is also served by a children's advocacy center and the report alleges sexual abuse of a child or another type of abuse of a child that is specified in the memorandum of understanding that creates the center as being within the center's jurisdiction, comply regarding the report with the protocol and procedures for referrals and investigations, with the coordinating activities, and with the authority or responsibility for performing or providing functions, activities, and services stipulated in the interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code relative to that center.

(E) No township, municipal, or county peace officer shall remove a child about whom a report is made pursuant to this section from the child's parents, stepparents, or guardian or any other persons having custody of the child without consultation with the public children services agency, unless, in the judgment of the officer, and, if the report was made by physician, the physician, immediate removal is considered essential to protect the child from further abuse or neglect. The agency that must be consulted shall be the agency conducting the investigation of the report as determined pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code.

(F)(1) Except as provided in section 2151.422 of the Revised Code or in an interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code that applies to the particular report, the public children services agency shall investigate, within twenty-four hours, each report of child abuse or child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred and of a threat of child abuse or child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to exist that is referred to it under this section to determine the circumstances surrounding the injuries, abuse, or neglect or the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect, the cause of the injuries, abuse, neglect, or threat, and the person or persons responsible. The investigation shall be made in cooperation with the law enforcement agency and in accordance with the memorandum of understanding prepared under division (J) of this section. A representative of the public children services agency shall, at the time of initial contact with the person subject to the investigation, inform the person of the specific complaints or allegations made against the person. The information shall be given in a manner that is consistent with division (H)(1) of this section and protects the rights of the person making the report under this section.

A failure to make the investigation in accordance with the memorandum is not grounds for, and shall not result in, the dismissal of any charges or complaint arising from the report or the suppression of any evidence obtained as a result of the report and does not give, and shall not be construed as giving, any rights or any grounds for appeal or post-conviction relief to any person. The public children services agency shall report each case to the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system that the department of job and family services shall maintain in accordance with section 5101.13 of the Revised Code. The public children services agency shall submit a report of its investigation, in writing, to the law enforcement agency.

(2) The public children services agency shall make any recommendations to the county prosecuting attorney or city director of law that it considers necessary to protect any children that are brought to its attention.

(G)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (H)(3) of this section, anyone or any hospital, institution, school, health department, or agency participating in the making of reports under division (A) of this section, anyone or any hospital, institution, school, health department, or agency participating in good faith in the making of reports under division (B) of this section, and anyone participating in good faith in a judicial proceeding resulting from the reports, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability for injury, death, or loss to person or property that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of the making of the reports or the participation in the judicial proceeding.

(b) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the physician-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding evidence regarding a child's injuries, abuse, or neglect, or the cause of the injuries, abuse, or neglect in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to this section.

(2) In any civil or criminal action or proceeding in which it is alleged and proved that participation in the making of a report under this section was not in good faith or participation in a judicial proceeding resulting from a report made under this section was not in good faith, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs and, if a civil action or proceeding is voluntarily dismissed, may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the party against whom the civil action or proceeding is brought.

(H)(1) Except as provided in divisions (H)(4) and (N) of this section, a report made under this section is confidential. The information provided in a report made pursuant to this section and the name of the person who made the report shall not be released for use, and shall not be used, as evidence in any civil action or proceeding brought against the person who made the report. Nothing in this division shall preclude the use of reports of other incidents of known or suspected abuse or neglect in a civil action or proceeding brought pursuant to division (M) of this section against a person who is alleged to have violated division (A)(1) of this section, provided that any information in a report that would identify the child who is the subject of the report or the maker of the report, if the maker of the report is not the defendant or an agent or employee of the defendant, has been redacted. In a criminal proceeding, the report is admissible in evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence and is subject to discovery in accordance with the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

(2) No person shall permit or encourage the unauthorized dissemination of the contents of any report made under this section.

(3) A person who knowingly makes or causes another person to make a false report under division (B) of this section that alleges that any person has committed an act or omission that resulted in a child being an abused child or a neglected child is guilty of a violation of section 2921.14 of the Revised Code.

(4) If a report is made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section and the child who is the subject of the report dies for any reason at any time after the report is made, but before the child attains eighteen years of age, the public children services agency or municipal or county peace officer to which the report was made or referred, on the request of the child fatality review board, shall submit a summary sheet of information providing a summary of the report to the review board of the county in which the deceased child resided at the time of death. On the request of the review board, the agency or peace officer may, at its discretion, make the report available to the review board. If the county served by the public children services agency is also served by a children's advocacy center and the report of alleged sexual abuse of a child or another type of abuse of a child is specified in the memorandum of understanding that creates the center as being within the center's jurisdiction, the agency or center shall perform the duties and functions specified in this division in accordance with the interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code relative to that advocacy center.

(5) A public children services agency shall advise a person alleged to have inflicted abuse or neglect on a child who is the subject of a report made pursuant to this section, including a report alleging sexual abuse of a child or another type of abuse of a child referred to a children's advocacy center pursuant to an interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code, in writing of the disposition of the investigation. The agency shall not provide to the person any information that identifies the person who made the report, statements of witnesses, or police or other investigative reports.

(I) Any report that is required by this section, other than a report that is made to the state highway patrol as described in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code, shall result in protective services and emergency supportive services being made available by the public children services agency on behalf of the children about whom the report is made, in an effort to prevent further neglect or abuse, to enhance their welfare, and, whenever possible, to preserve the family unit intact. The agency required to provide the services shall be the agency conducting the investigation of the report pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code.

(J)(1) Each public children services agency shall prepare a memorandum of understanding that is signed by all of the following:

(a) If there is only one juvenile judge in the county, the juvenile judge of the county or the juvenile judge's representative;

(b) If there is more than one juvenile judge in the county, a juvenile judge or the juvenile judges' representative selected by the juvenile judges or, if they are unable to do so for any reason, the juvenile judge who is senior in point of service or the senior juvenile judge's representative;

(c) The county peace officer;

(d) All chief municipal peace officers within the county;

(e) Other law enforcement officers handling child abuse and neglect cases in the county;

(f) The prosecuting attorney of the county;

(g) If the public children services agency is not the county department of job and family services, the county department of job and family services;

(h) The county humane society;

(i) If the public children services agency participated in the execution of a memorandum of understanding under section 2151.426 of the Revised Code establishing a children's advocacy center, each participating member of the children's advocacy center established by the memorandum.

(2) A memorandum of understanding shall set forth the normal operating procedure to be employed by all concerned officials in the execution of their respective responsibilities under this section and division (C) of section 2919.21, division (B)(1) of section 2919.22, division (B) of section 2919.23, and section 2919.24 of the Revised Code and shall have as two of its primary goals the elimination of all unnecessary interviews of children who are the subject of reports made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section and, when feasible, providing for only one interview of a child who is the subject of any report made pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section. A failure to follow the procedure set forth in the memorandum by the concerned officials is not grounds for, and shall not result in, the dismissal of any charges or complaint arising from any reported case of abuse or neglect or the suppression of any evidence obtained as a result of any reported child abuse or child neglect and does not give, and shall not be construed as giving, any rights or any grounds for appeal or post-conviction relief to any person.

(3) A memorandum of understanding shall include all of the following:

(a) The roles and responsibilities for handling emergency and nonemergency cases of abuse and neglect;

(b) Standards and procedures to be used in handling and coordinating investigations of reported cases of child abuse and reported cases of child neglect, methods to be used in interviewing the child who is the subject of the report and who allegedly was abused or neglected, and standards and procedures addressing the categories of persons who may interview the child who is the subject of the report and who allegedly was abused or neglected.

(4) If a public children services agency participated in the execution of a memorandum of understanding under section 2151.426 of the Revised Code establishing a children's advocacy center, the agency shall incorporate the contents of that memorandum in the memorandum prepared pursuant to this section.

(5) The clerk of the court of common pleas in the county may sign the memorandum of understanding prepared under division (J)(1) of this section. If the clerk signs the memorandum of understanding, the clerk shall execute all relevant responsibilities as required of officials specified in the memorandum.

(K)(1) Except as provided in division (K)(4) of this section, a person who is required to make a report pursuant to division (A) of this section may make a reasonable number of requests of the public children services agency that receives or is referred the report, or of the children's advocacy center that is referred the report if the report is referred to a children's advocacy center pursuant to an interagency agreement entered into under section 2151.428 of the Revised Code, to be provided with the following information:

(a) Whether the agency or center has initiated an investigation of the report;

(b) Whether the agency or center is continuing to investigate the report;

(c) Whether the agency or center is otherwise involved with the child who is the subject of the report;

(d) The general status of the health and safety of the child who is the subject of the report;

(e) Whether the report has resulted in the filing of a complaint in juvenile court or of criminal charges in another court.

(2) A person may request the information specified in division (K)(1) of this section only if, at the time the report is made, the person's name, address, and telephone number are provided to the person who receives the report.

When a municipal or county peace officer or employee of a public children services agency receives a report pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section the recipient of the report shall inform the person of the right to request the information described in division (K)(1) of this section. The recipient of the report shall include in the initial child abuse or child neglect report that the person making the report was so informed and, if provided at the time of the making of the report, shall include the person's name, address, and telephone number in the report.

Each request is subject to verification of the identity of the person making the report. If that person's identity is verified, the agency shall provide the person with the information described in division (K)(1) of this section a reasonable number of times, except that the agency shall not disclose any confidential information regarding the child who is the subject of the report other than the information described in those divisions.

(3) A request made pursuant to division (K)(1) of this section is not a substitute for any report required to be made pursuant to division (A) of this section.

(4) If an agency other than the agency that received or was referred the report is conducting the investigation of the report pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code, the agency conducting the investigation shall comply with the requirements of division (K) of this section.

(L) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. The department of job and family services may enter into a plan of cooperation with any other governmental entity to aid in ensuring that children are protected from abuse and neglect. The department shall make recommendations to the attorney general that the department determines are necessary to protect children from child abuse and child neglect.

(M) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is liable for compensatory and exemplary damages to the child who would have been the subject of the report that was not made. A person who brings a civil action or proceeding pursuant to this division against a person who is alleged to have violated division (A)(1) of this section may use in the action or proceeding reports of other incidents of known or suspected abuse or neglect, provided that any information in a report that would identify the child who is the subject of the report or the maker of the report, if the maker is not the defendant or an agent or employee of the defendant, has been redacted.

(N)(1) As used in this division:

(a) "Out-of-home care" includes a nonchartered nonpublic school if the alleged child abuse or child neglect, or alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect, described in a report received by a public children services agency allegedly occurred in or involved the nonchartered nonpublic school and the alleged perpetrator named in the report holds a certificate, permit, or license issued by the state board of education under section 3301.071 or Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code.

(b) "Administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer" means the superintendent of the school district if the out-of-home care entity subject to a report made pursuant to this section is a school operated by the district.

(2) No later than the end of the day following the day on which a public children services agency receives a report of alleged child abuse or child neglect, or a report of an alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect, that allegedly occurred in or involved an out-of-home care entity, the agency shall provide written notice of the allegations contained in and the person named as the alleged perpetrator in the report to the administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer of the out-of-home care entity that is the subject of the report unless the administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer is named as an alleged perpetrator in the report. If the administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer of an out-of-home care entity is named as an alleged perpetrator in a report of alleged child abuse or child neglect, or a report of an alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect, that allegedly occurred in or involved the out-of-home care entity, the agency shall provide the written notice to the owner or governing board of the out-of-home care entity that is the subject of the report. The agency shall not provide witness statements or police or other investigative reports.

(3) No later than three days after the day on which a public children services agency that conducted the investigation as determined pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code makes a disposition of an investigation involving a report of alleged child abuse or child neglect, or a report of an alleged threat of child abuse or child neglect, that allegedly occurred in or involved an out-of-home care entity, the agency shall send written notice of the disposition of the investigation to the administrator, director, or other chief administrative officer and the owner or governing board of the out-of-home care entity. The agency shall not provide witness statements or police or other investigative reports.

Sec. 2317.02.  The following persons shall not testify in certain respects:

(A)(1) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the attorney by a client in that relation or the attorney's advice to a client, except that the attorney may testify by express consent of the client or, if the client is deceased, by the express consent of the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client. However, if the client voluntarily testifies or is deemed by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, the attorney may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply concerning a communication between a client who has since died and the deceased client's attorney if the communication is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim through that deceased client, regardless of whether the claims are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction, and the dispute addresses the competency of the deceased client when the deceased client executed a document that is the basis of the dispute or whether the deceased client was a victim of fraud, undue influence, or duress when the deceased client executed a document that is the basis of the dispute.

(2) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the attorney by a client in that relationship or the attorney's advice to a client, except that if the client is an insurance company, the attorney may be compelled to testify, subject to an in camera inspection by a court, about communications made by the client to the attorney or by the attorney to the client that are related to the attorney's aiding or furthering an ongoing or future commission of bad faith by the client, if the party seeking disclosure of the communications has made a prima facie showing of bad faith, fraud, or criminal misconduct by the client.

(B)(1) A physician or a dentist concerning a communication made to the physician or dentist by a patient in that relation or the physician's or dentist's advice to a patient, except as otherwise provided in this division, division (B)(2), and division (B)(3) of this section, and except that, if the patient is deemed by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, the physician may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply, and a physician or dentist may testify or may be compelled to testify, in any of the following circumstances:

(a) In any civil action, in accordance with the discovery provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with a civil action, or in connection with a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, under any of the following circumstances:

(i) If the patient or the guardian or other legal representative of the patient gives express consent;

(ii) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives express consent;

(iii) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal representative.

(b) In any civil action concerning court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient, if the court-ordered treatment or services were ordered as part of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 of the Revised Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.

(c) In any criminal action concerning any test or the results of any test that determines the presence or concentration of alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the patient's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, urine, or other bodily substance at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question.

(d) In any criminal action against a physician or dentist. In such an action, the testimonial privilege established under this division does not prohibit the admission into evidence, in accordance with the Rules of Evidence, of a patient's medical or dental records or other communications between a patient and the physician or dentist that are related to the action and obtained by subpoena, search warrant, or other lawful means. A court that permits or compels a physician or dentist to testify in such an action or permits the introduction into evidence of patient records or other communications in such an action shall require that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that the confidentiality of any patient named or otherwise identified in the records is maintained. Measures to ensure confidentiality that may be taken by the court include sealing its records or deleting specific information from its records.

(e)(i) If the communication was between a patient who has since died and the deceased patient's physician or dentist, the communication is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim through that deceased patient, regardless of whether the claims are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction, and the dispute addresses the competency of the deceased patient when the deceased patient executed a document that is the basis of the dispute or whether the deceased patient was a victim of fraud, undue influence, or duress when the deceased patient executed a document that is the basis of the dispute.

(ii) If neither the spouse of a patient nor the executor or administrator of that patient's estate gives consent under division (B)(1)(a)(ii) of this section, testimony or the disclosure of the patient's medical records by a physician, dentist, or other health care provider under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section is a permitted use or disclosure of protected health information, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 160.103, and an authorization or opportunity to be heard shall not be required.

(iii) Division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section does not require a mental health professional to disclose psychotherapy notes, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 164.501.

(iv) An interested person who objects to testimony or disclosure under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section may seek a protective order pursuant to Civil Rule 26.

(v) A person to whom protected health information is disclosed under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section shall not use or disclose the protected health information for any purpose other than the litigation or proceeding for which the information was requested and shall return the protected health information to the covered entity or destroy the protected health information, including all copies made, at the conclusion of the litigation or proceeding.

(2)(a) If any law enforcement officer submits a written statement to a health care provider that states that an official criminal investigation has begun regarding a specified person or that a criminal action or proceeding has been commenced against a specified person, that requests the provider to supply to the officer copies of any records the provider possesses that pertain to any test or the results of any test administered to the specified person to determine the presence or concentration of alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the person's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question, and that conforms to section 2317.022 of the Revised Code, the provider, except to the extent specifically prohibited by any law of this state or of the United States, shall supply to the officer a copy of any of the requested records the provider possesses. If the health care provider does not possess any of the requested records, the provider shall give the officer a written statement that indicates that the provider does not possess any of the requested records.

(b) If a health care provider possesses any records of the type described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section regarding the person in question at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of the test in question, the custodian of the records may submit a certified copy of the records, and, upon its submission, the certified copy is qualified as authentic evidence and may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence. Division (A) of section 2317.422 of the Revised Code does not apply to any certified copy of records submitted in accordance with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed to limit the right of any party to call as a witness the person who administered the test to which the records pertain, the person under whose supervision the test was administered, the custodian of the records, the person who made the records, or the person under whose supervision the records were made.

(3)(a) If the testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of this section does not apply as provided in division (B)(1)(a)(iii) of this section, a physician or dentist may be compelled to testify or to submit to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure only as to a communication made to the physician or dentist by the patient in question in that relation, or the physician's or dentist's advice to the patient in question, that related causally or historically to physical or mental injuries that are relevant to issues in the medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, action for wrongful death, other civil action, or claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.

(b) If the testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to a physician or dentist as provided in division (B)(1)(c) of this section, the physician or dentist, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of the test in question, may submit a certified copy of those results, and, upon its submission, the certified copy is qualified as authentic evidence and may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence. Division (A) of section 2317.422 of the Revised Code does not apply to any certified copy of results submitted in accordance with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed to limit the right of any party to call as a witness the person who administered the test in question, the person under whose supervision the test was administered, the custodian of the results of the test, the person who compiled the results, or the person under whose supervision the results were compiled.

(4) The testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of this section is not waived when a communication is made by a physician to a pharmacist or when there is communication between a patient and a pharmacist in furtherance of the physician-patient relation.

(5)(a) As used in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section, "communication" means acquiring, recording, or transmitting any information, in any manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or statements necessary to enable a physician or dentist to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or act for a patient. A "communication" may include, but is not limited to, any medical or dental, office, or hospital communication such as a record, chart, letter, memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, photograph, financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.

(b) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "health care provider" means a hospital, ambulatory care facility, long-term care facility, pharmacy, emergency facility, or health care practitioner.

(c) As used in division (B)(5)(b) of this section:

(i) "Ambulatory care facility" means a facility that provides medical, diagnostic, or surgical treatment to patients who do not require hospitalization, including a dialysis center, ambulatory surgical facility, cardiac catheterization facility, diagnostic imaging center, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy center, home health agency, inpatient hospice, birthing center, radiation therapy center, emergency facility, and an urgent care center. "Ambulatory health care facility" does not include the private office of a physician or dentist, whether the office is for an individual or group practice.

(ii) "Emergency facility" means a hospital emergency department or any other facility that provides emergency medical services.

(iii) "Health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in section 4769.01 of the Revised Code.

(iv) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(v) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home, residential care facility, or home for the aging, as those terms are defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; an adult care facility, as defined in section 3722.01 of the Revised Code; a nursing facility or intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, as those terms are defined in section 5111.20 of the Revised Code; a facility or portion of a facility certified as a skilled nursing facility under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C.A. 1395, as amended.

(vi) "Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.

(d) As used in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, "drug of abuse" has the same meaning as in section 4506.01 of the Revised Code.

(6) Divisions (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section apply to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, doctors of podiatry, and dentists.

(7) Nothing in divisions (B)(1) to (6) of this section affects, or shall be construed as affecting, the immunity from civil liability conferred by section 307.628 of the Revised Code or the immunity from civil liability conferred by section 2305.33 of the Revised Code upon physicians who report an employee's use of a drug of abuse, or a condition of an employee other than one involving the use of a drug of abuse, to the employer of the employee in accordance with division (B) of that section. As used in division (B)(7) of this section, "employee," "employer," and "physician" have the same meanings as in section 2305.33 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A cleric, when the cleric remains accountable to the authority of that cleric's church, denomination, or sect, concerning a confession made, or any information confidentially communicated, to the cleric for a religious counseling purpose in the cleric's professional character. The cleric may testify by express consent of the person making the communication, except when the disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred trust and except that, if the person voluntarily testifies or is deemed by division (A)(4)(c) of section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, the cleric may be compelled to testify on the same subject except when disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred trust.

(2) As used in division (C) of this section:

(a) "Cleric" means a member of the clergy, rabbi, priest, Christian Science practitioner, or regularly ordained, accredited, or licensed minister of an established and legally cognizable church, denomination, or sect.

(b) "Sacred trust" means a confession or confidential communication made to a cleric in the cleric's ecclesiastical capacity in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to which the cleric belongs, including, but not limited to, the Catholic Church, if both of the following apply:

(i) The confession or confidential communication was made directly to the cleric.

(ii) The confession or confidential communication was made in the manner and context that places the cleric specifically and strictly under a level of confidentiality that is considered inviolate by canon law or church doctrine.

(D) Husband or wife, concerning any communication made by one to the other, or an act done by either in the presence of the other, during coverture, unless the communication was made, or act done, in the known presence or hearing of a third person competent to be a witness; and such rule is the same if the marital relation has ceased to exist;

(E) A person who assigns a claim or interest, concerning any matter in respect to which the person would not, if a party, be permitted to testify;

(F) A person who, if a party, would be restricted under section 2317.03 of the Revised Code, when the property or thing is sold or transferred by an executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, heir, devisee, or legatee, shall be restricted in the same manner in any action or proceeding concerning the property or thing.

(G)(1) A school guidance counselor who holds a valid educator license from the state board of education as provided for in section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, or a person licensed or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a professional clinical counselor, professional counselor, social worker, independent social worker, marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist, or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a social work assistant concerning a confidential communication received from a client in that relation or the person's advice to a client unless any of the following applies:

(a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present danger to the client or other persons. For the purposes of this division, cases in which there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of the client constitute a clear and present danger.

(b) The client gives express consent to the testimony.

(c) If the client is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client gives express consent.

(d) The client voluntarily testifies, in which case the school guidance counselor or person licensed or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

(e) The court in camera determines that the information communicated by the client is not germane to the counselor-client, marriage and family therapist-client, art therapist-client, or social worker-client relationship.

(f) A court, in an action brought against a school, its administration, or any of its personnel by the client, rules after an in-camera inspection that the testimony of the school guidance counselor is relevant to that action.

(g) The testimony is sought in a civil action and concerns court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient as part of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 of the Revised Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.

(2) Nothing in division (G)(1) of this section shall relieve a school guidance counselor or a person licensed or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code from the requirement to report information concerning child abuse or neglect under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code.

(H) A mediator acting under a mediation order issued under division (A) of section 3109.052 of the Revised Code or otherwise issued in any proceeding for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, in any action or proceeding, other than a criminal, delinquency, child abuse, child neglect, or dependent child action or proceeding, that is brought by or against either parent who takes part in mediation in accordance with the order and that pertains to the mediation process, to any information discussed or presented in the mediation process, to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the parents' children, or to the awarding of parenting time rights in relation to their children;

(I) A communications assistant, acting within the scope of the communication assistant's authority, when providing telecommunications relay service pursuant to section 4931.35 of the Revised Code or Title II of the "Communications Act of 1934," 104 Stat. 366 (1990), 47 U.S.C. 225, concerning a communication made through a telecommunications relay service. Nothing in this section shall limit the obligation of a communications assistant to divulge information or testify when mandated by federal law or regulation or pursuant to subpoena in a criminal proceeding.

Nothing in this section shall limit any immunity or privilege granted under federal law or regulation.

(J)(1) A chiropractor in a civil proceeding concerning a communication made to the chiropractor by a patient in that relation or the chiropractor's advice to a patient, except as otherwise provided in this division. The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply, and a chiropractor may testify or may be compelled to testify, in any civil action, in accordance with the discovery provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with a civil action, or in connection with a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, under any of the following circumstances:

(a) If the patient or the guardian or other legal representative of the patient gives express consent.

(b) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives express consent.

(c) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal representative.

(2) If the testimonial privilege described in division (J)(1) of this section does not apply as provided in division (J)(1)(c) of this section, a chiropractor may be compelled to testify or to submit to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure only as to a communication made to the chiropractor by the patient in question in that relation, or the chiropractor's advice to the patient in question, that related causally or historically to physical or mental injuries that are relevant to issues in the medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, action for wrongful death, other civil action, or claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.

(3) The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply, and a chiropractor may testify or be compelled to testify, in any criminal action or administrative proceeding.

(4) As used in this division, "communication" means acquiring, recording, or transmitting any information, in any manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or statements necessary to enable a chiropractor to diagnose, treat, or act for a patient. A communication may include, but is not limited to, any chiropractic, office, or hospital communication such as a record, chart, letter, memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, photograph, financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.

(K)(1) Except as provided under division (K)(2) of this section, a critical incident stress management team member concerning a communication received from an individual who receives crisis response services from the team member, or the team member's advice to the individual, during a debriefing session.

(2) The testimonial privilege established under division (K)(1) of this section does not apply if any of the following are true:

(a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present danger to the individual who receives crisis response services or to other persons. For purposes of this division, cases in which there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of the individual constitute a clear and present danger.

(b) The individual who received crisis response services gives express consent to the testimony.

(c) If the individual who received crisis response services is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased individual gives express consent.

(d) The individual who received crisis response services voluntarily testifies, in which case the team member may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

(e) The court in camera determines that the information communicated by the individual who received crisis response services is not germane to the relationship between the individual and the team member.

(f) The communication or advice pertains or is related to any criminal act.

(3) As used in division (K) of this section:

(a) "Crisis response services" means consultation, risk assessment, referral, and on-site crisis intervention services provided by a critical incident stress management team to individuals affected by crisis or disaster.

(b) "Critical incident stress management team member" or "team member" means an individual specially trained to provide crisis response services as a member of an organized community or local crisis response team that holds membership in the Ohio critical incident stress management network.

(c) "Debriefing session" means a session at which crisis response services are rendered by a critical incident stress management team member during or after a crisis or disaster.

(L)(1) Subject to division (L)(2) of this section and except as provided in division (L)(3) of this section, an employee assistance professional, concerning a communication made to the employee assistance professional by a client in the employee assistance professional's official capacity as an employee assistance professional.

(2) Division (L)(1) of this section applies to an employee assistance professional who meets either or both of the following requirements:

(a) Is certified by the employee assistance certification commission to engage in the employee assistance profession;

(b) Has education, training, and experience in all of the following:

(i) Providing workplace-based services designed to address employer and employee productivity issues;

(ii) Providing assistance to employees and employees' dependents in identifying and finding the means to resolve personal problems that affect the employees or the employees' performance;

(iii) Identifying and resolving productivity problems associated with an employee's concerns about any of the following matters: health, marriage, family, finances, substance abuse or other addiction, workplace, law, and emotional issues;

(iv) Selecting and evaluating available community resources;

(v) Making appropriate referrals;

(vi) Local and national employee assistance agreements;

(vii) Client confidentiality.

(3) Division (L)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A criminal action or proceeding involving an offense under sections 2903.01 to 2903.06 of the Revised Code if the employee assistance professional's disclosure or testimony relates directly to the facts or immediate circumstances of the offense;

(b) A communication made by a client to an employee assistance professional that reveals the contemplation or commission of a crime or serious, harmful act;

(c) A communication that is made by a client who is an unemancipated minor or an adult adjudicated to be incompetent and indicates that the client was the victim of a crime or abuse;

(d) A civil proceeding to determine an individual's mental competency or a criminal action in which a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity is entered;

(e) A civil or criminal malpractice action brought against the employee assistance professional;

(f) When the employee assistance professional has the express consent of the client or, if the client is deceased or disabled, the client's legal representative;

(g) When the testimonial privilege otherwise provided by division (L)(1) of this section is abrogated under law.

Sec. 4757.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Practice of professional counseling" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public a counseling service involving the application of clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, or career development and adjustment, including the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(B) "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor's role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following: assessing and analyzing background and current information, diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, exploring possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development. "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" includes at least counseling, appraisal, consulting, and referral.

(C) "Practice of social work" means the application of specialized knowledge of human development and behavior and social, economic, and cultural systems in directly assisting individuals, families, and groups in a clinical setting to improve or restore their capacity for social functioning, including counseling, the use of psychosocial interventions, and the use of social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(D) "Accredited educational institution" means an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency accepted by the board of regents.

(E) "Scope of practice" means the services, methods, and techniques in which and the areas for which a person licensed or registered under this chapter is trained and qualified.

(F) "Mental and emotional disorders" means those disorders that are classified in accepted nosologies such as the international classification of diseases and the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders and in future editions of those nosologies.

(G) "Marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, evaluation, assessment, counseling, management and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, through the professional application of marriage and family therapies and techniques.

(H) "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, assessment, counseling, and management, of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in groups, whether those services are offered directly to the general public or through public or private organizations, for a fee, salary or other consideration through the professional application of marriage and family theories, therapies, and techniques, including, but not limited to psychotherapeutic theories, therapies and techniques that marriage and family therapists are educated and trained to perform.

(I) "Art therapy" means the use of art media, images, and the creative art processes, and an individual's responses to the media, images, and processes, to help evaluate the individual's development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts for the purpose of reconciling emotional conflicts, fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behavior, solving problems, reducing anxiety, aiding in reality orientation, or increasing self-esteem.

Sec. 4757.02.  (A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section and section 4757.41 of the Revised Code:

(1) No person shall engage in or claim to the public to be engaging in the practice of professional counseling for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as a professional clinical counselor or professional counselor.

(2) No person shall practice or claim to the public to be practicing social work for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or a social worker.

(3) No person shall claim to the public to be a social work assistant unless the person is currently registered under this chapter as a social work assistant.

(4) No person shall engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy or claim to the public to be engaging in the practice of marriage and family therapy unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as a marriage and family therapist.

(5) Beginning one year after the effective date of this amendment, no person shall engage in or claim to the public to be engaging in art therapy for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as an art therapist.

(B)(1) No person shall use the title "professional clinical counselor," "professional counselor," or any other title or description incorporating the word "counselor" or any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities unless currently authorized under this chapter by licensure to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.

(2) No person shall use the title "social worker," "independent social worker," "social work assistant," or any other title or description incorporating the words "social worker" or any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities unless the person is currently authorized by licensure or registration under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.

(3) No person shall use the title "marriage and family therapist" or any initials used to identify persons acting in that capacity unless the person is currently authorized by licensure under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.

(4) Beginning one year after the effective date of this amendment, no person shall use the title "art therapist" or any other title or description that incorporates the phrase "art therapist"; otherwise hold the person out to be an art therapist; or use any initials commonly used to identify art therapists, unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter.

(C)(1) Divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section do not apply to the practice of marriage and family therapy by a person holding a valid license or temporary license as a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist under this chapter.

(2) Division (A)(4) of this section does not apply to the following persons licensed or registered under this chapter: professional clinical counselors, professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, and social work assistants.

(3) Division (A)(5) of this section does not apply to professional clinical counselors, independent social workers, or independent marriage and family therapists, licensed under this chapter, or to psychologists or psychiatrists.

Sec. 4757.03.  There is hereby created the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board, consisting of fifteen eighteen members. The governor shall appoint the members with the advice and consent of the senate.

Four of the members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as professional clinical counselors or professional counselors. At all times, the counselor membership shall include at least two licensed professional clinical counselors, at least one individual who has received a doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board and holds a graduate level teaching position in a counselor education program, and at least two individuals who have received at least a master's degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board.

Two of the members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as independent marriage and family therapists and two shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as marriage and family therapists or, if the board has not yet licensed independent marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists, eligible for licensure as independent marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists. They shall have, during the five years preceding appointment, actively engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, in educating and training master's, doctoral, or postdoctoral students of marriage and family therapy, or in marriage and family therapy research and, during the two years immediately preceding appointment, shall have devoted the majority of their professional time to the activity while residing in this state.

Two members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as independent social workers. Two members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as social workers, at least one of whom must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in social work from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board. At all times, the social worker membership shall include one educator who holds a teaching position in a baccalaureate or master's degree social work program at an accredited educational institution recognized by the board.

Three Two members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as art therapists.

Four members shall be representatives of the general public who have not practiced art therapy, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology or psychiatry, or social work and have not been involved in the delivery of art therapy, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology or psychiatry, or social work services. At least one of the members representing the general public shall be at least sixty years of age. During their terms the public members shall not practice art therapy, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology or psychiatry, or social work or be involved in the delivery of art therapy, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work services.

Not more than eight ten members of the board may be members of the same political party or sex. At least one member of the board shall be of African, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian descent.

Of the initial appointees, three shall be appointed for terms ending October 10, 1985, four shall be appointed for terms ending October 10, 1986, and four shall be appointed for terms ending October 10, 1987. Of the two initial independent marriage and family therapists appointed to the board, one shall be appointed for a term ending two years after the effective date of this amendment April 7, 2003, and one for a term ending three years after that date. Of the two initial marriage and family therapists appointed to the board, one shall be appointed for a term ending two years after the effective date of this amendment April 7, 2003, and one for a term ending three years after that date. Of the two initial art therapists appointed to the board, one shall be appointed for a term ending one year after the effective date of this amendment and one for a term ending three years after that date. The additional public member appointed to the board shall be appointed for a term ending three years after the effective date of this amendment. After the initial appointments, terms of office shall be three years, each term ending on the same day of the same month of the year as did the term that it succeeds.

A member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office after the expiration date of the member's term until a successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Members may be reappointed, except that if a person has held office for two consecutive full terms, the person shall not be reappointed to the board sooner than one year after the expiration of the second full term as a member of the board.

Sec. 4757.04.  Within the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board, there is hereby created the counselors professional standards committee, the social workers professional standards committee, and the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee, and the art therapist professional standards committee.

The counselors professional standards committee consists shall consist of the board's professional clinical counselor and professional counselor members and one of the members representing the public who is not the member representing the public on the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee or the social workers professional standards committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning professional clinical counselors and professional counselors.

The social workers professional standards committee consists shall consist of the board's independent social worker and social worker members and one of the members representing the public who is not the member representing the public on the counselors professional standards committee or the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning independent social workers, social workers, and social work assistants.

The marriage and family therapist professional standards committee consists shall consist of the board's marriage and family therapists and one of the members representing the public who is not the member representing the public on the counselors professional standards committee or the social workers professional standards committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning independent marriage and family therapists and marriage and family therapists.

The art therapist professional standards committee shall consist of the board's art therapist members. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning art therapists.

Each of the board's committees shall also include one of the board's members representing the public. A public member shall not serve on more than one of the committees.

Sec. 4757.05.  (A) The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall meet as a whole to discuss and review issues regarding personnel, budgetary matters, administration, and any other matter pertaining to the operation of the entire board. The board shall hold at least one regular meeting every three months. Additional meetings may be held at such times as the board determines, upon call of the chairperson, or upon the written request of four seven or more members of the board to the executive director. If four seven or more members so request a meeting, the executive director shall call a meeting to commence in not more than seven days. Eight Ten members of the board constitute a quorum to conduct business. Except as provided in section 4757.39 of the Revised Code, no action shall be taken without the concurrence of at least a quorum.

The counselors professional standards committee, the social workers professional standards committee, and the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee, and the art therapist professional standards committee, shall meet as necessary to fulfill their duties established by this chapter and the rules adopted under it. Three members of a committee the counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists committees constitute a quorum for that each committee to conduct business. Two members of the art therapists committee constitute a quorum to conduct business. No action shall be taken without the concurrence of at least a quorum.

(B) At its first meeting each year, the board shall elect a chairperson from among its members. At the first meeting held each year by the board's professional standards committees, each committee shall elect from among its members a chairperson. The chairpersons of the committees shall serve as co-vice-chairpersons of the board. Neither the board nor its committees shall elect a member to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

(C) The board shall employ an executive director. The board may employ and prescribe the powers and duties of such employees and consultants as are necessary for it and its professional standards committees to carry out this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(D) The members of the board shall receive an amount fixed under division (J) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code for each day employed in the discharge of their official duties as board or committee members and shall be reimbursed for their necessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(E) The board and each of its professional standards committees shall keep any records and minutes necessary to fulfill the duties established by this chapter and the rules adopted under it.

Sec. 4757.06.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall adopt a seal to authenticate its records and proceedings. Each of the board's professional standards committees shall use the seal to authenticate its records and proceedings.

A statement, signed by the executive director of the board to which is affixed the official seal of the board, to the effect that a person specified in the statement is not currently licensed or registered under this chapter or that a license or certificate of registration has been revoked or suspended, shall be received as prima-facie evidence of a record of the board in any court or before any officer of the state.

Sec. 4757.07.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board and its professional standards committees shall not discriminate against any licensee, registrant, or applicant for a license or certificate of registration under this chapter because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability as defined in section 4112.01 of the Revised Code, or age. The board or committee, as appropriate, shall afford a hearing to any person who files with the board or committee a statement alleging discrimination based on any of those reasons.

Sec. 4757.10.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board may adopt any rules necessary to carry out this chapter.

The board shall adopt rules that do all of the following:

(A) Concern intervention for and treatment of any impaired person holding a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter;

(B) Establish standards for training and experience of supervisors described in division (C) of section 4757.30 of the Revised Code;

(C) Define the requirement that an applicant be of good moral character in order to be licensed or registered under this chapter;

(D) Establish requirements for criminal records checks of applicants under section 4776.03 of the Revised Code.

All rules adopted under this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. When it adopts rules under this section or any other section of this chapter, the board may consider standards established by any national association or other organization representing the interests of those involved in professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy the professions governed by the board under this chapter.

Sec. 4757.101.  (A) As used in this section, "license" and "applicant for an initial license" have the same meanings as in section 4776.01 of the Revised Code, except that "license" as used in both of those terms refers to the types of authorizations otherwise issued or conferred under this chapter.

(B) In addition to any other eligibility requirement set forth in this chapter, each applicant for an initial license shall comply with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code. The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall not grant a license to an applicant for an initial license unless the applicant complies with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code and the board, in its discretion, decides that the results of the criminal records check do not make the applicant ineligible for a license issued pursuant to section 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, or 4757.301 of the Revised Code under this chapter.

Sec. 4757.11.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall establish a code of ethical practice for persons licensed or registered under this chapter as professional clinical counselors or professional counselors. The board shall establish a code of ethical practice for persons licensed under this chapter as independent social workers or social workers, persons registered under this chapter as social work assistants, and persons licensed as independent marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists. The codes of ethical practice shall be established by adopting rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The codes of ethical practice shall define unprofessional conduct, which shall include engaging in a dual relationship with a client or former client, committing an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation of a client or former client, and, except as permitted by law, violating client confidentiality. The codes of ethical practice may be based on any codes of ethical practice developed by national organizations representing the interests of those involved in professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy the professions governed by the board under this chapter. The board may establish standards in its codes of ethical practice that are more stringent than those established by national organizations.

Sec. 4757.12.  (A) A person who is licensed or registered under this chapter, and a person or agency that employs a person licensed or registered under this chapter, may charge a client or receive remuneration for professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy services only if one of the following applies:

(1) Prior to the performance of services, the client is furnished a copy of a professional disclosure statement containing the information described in division (B) of this section;

(2) A professional disclosure statement containing the information described in division (B) of this section is displayed in a conspicuous location at the place where the services are performed and a copy of the statement is provided to the client upon request.

(B) The professional disclosure statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain the following:

(1) The name, title, business address, and business telephone number of the professional clinical counselor, professional counselor, social work assistant, social worker, independent social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist person performing the services;

(2) The formal professional education of the person performing the services, including the institutions the person attended, the dates attended, and the degrees received from them;

(3) The areas of competence in the field in which the person is licensed or registered and the services the person provides;

(4) In the case of a person who is engaged in a private individual practice, partnership, or group practice, the person's fee schedule, listed by type of service or hourly rate;

(5) At the bottom of the first page of the disclosure statement, the words, "This information is required by the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board, which regulates the practices of professional counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy, and art therapy in this state." and, immediately beneath those words, the name, address, and telephone number of the board.

Sec. 4757.15.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall prepare, cause to be prepared, or procure the use of, and grade, have graded, or procure the grading of, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapist examinations to determine the competence of applicants for such licensure under this chapter. The board may administer separate examinations to reflect differences in educational degrees earned by applicants. The board may develop the examinations or use examinations prepared by state or national organizations that represent the interests of those involved in professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy. The board shall conduct examinations at least twice each year and shall determine the level of competence necessary for a passing score.

Sec. 4757.16.  (A) A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as a professional clinical counselor or, professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, or art therapist, or seeking to be registered under this chapter as a social work assistant, shall file with the counselors appropriate professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board a written application on a form prescribed by the counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board. A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or social worker or registered under this chapter as a social work assistant shall file with the social workers professional standards committee of the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as an independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist shall file with the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee of the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board.

Each form prescribed by the board shall contain a statement informing the applicant that a person who knowingly makes a false statement on the form is guilty of falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(B) The professional standards committees shall review each application received and shall determine whether the applicant meets the requirements to receive the license or certificate of registration for which application has been made.

Sec. 4757.17.  The professional standards committees of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall review the applications of applicants for licensure or registration under this chapter who have received a post-secondary degree from an educational institution outside the United States. The committee reviewing the application shall determine whether the applicant's experience, command of the English language, and completed academic program meet the standards of an academic program of an accredited educational institution. If they do, the applicant shall be considered to have received the education from an accredited educational institution as required by this chapter and rules adopted under it.

Sec. 4757.18.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board may enter into a reciprocal agreement with any state that regulates individuals practicing in the same capacities as those regulated under this chapter if the board finds that the state has requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements this state has for receipt of a license or certificate of registration under this chapter. In a reciprocal agreement, the board agrees to issue the appropriate license or certificate of registration to any resident of the other state whose practice is currently authorized by that state if that state's regulatory body agrees to authorize the appropriate practice of any resident of this state who holds a valid license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter.

The professional standards committees of the board may, by endorsement, issue the appropriate license or certificate of registration to a resident of a state with which the board does not have a reciprocal agreement, if the person submits proof satisfactory to the committee of currently being licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized to practice by that state.

Sec. 4757.19.  On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a license or certificate of registration issued pursuant to this chapter.

Sec. 4757.22.  (A) The counselors professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall issue a license to practice as a professional clinical counselor to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section.

(B) To be eligible for a professional clinical counselor license, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution a graduate degree in counseling.

(3) The individual must complete a minimum of ninety quarter hours of graduate credit in counselor training acceptable to the committee, including a minimum of thirty quarter hours of instruction in the following areas:

(a) Clinical psychopathology, personality, and abnormal behavior;

(b) Evaluation of mental and emotional disorders;

(c) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;

(d) Methods of prevention, intervention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(4) The individual must complete, in either a private or clinical counseling setting, supervised experience in counseling that is of a type approved by the committee, is supervised by a professional clinical counselor or other qualified professional approved by the committee, and is in the following amounts:

(a) In the case of an individual holding only a master's degree, not less than two years of experience, which must be completed after the award of the master's degree;

(b) In the case of an individual holding a doctorate, not less than one year of experience, which must be completed after the award of the doctorate.

(5) The individual must pass a field evaluation that meets the following requirements:

(a) Has been completed by the applicant's instructors, employers, supervisors, or other persons determined by the committee to be competent to evaluate an individual's professional competence;

(b) Includes documented evidence of the quality, scope, and nature of the applicant's experience and competence in diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders.

(6) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a professional clinical counselor.

(C) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division (B) of this section, counselor training must include at least the following:

(1) Instruction in human growth and development; counseling theory; counseling techniques; group dynamics, processing, and counseling; appraisal of individuals; research and evaluation; professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; social and cultural foundations; and lifestyle and career development;

(2) Participation in a supervised practicum and internship in counseling.

(D) The committee may issue a provisional license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license to practice as a professional clinical counselor.

(E) An individual may not sit for the licensing examination unless the individual meets the educational requirements to be licensed under this section. An individual who is denied admission to the licensing examination may appeal the denial in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.23.  (A) The counselors professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall issue a license as a professional counselor to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements established under division (B) of this section.

(B) To be eligible for a license as a professional counselor, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution a graduate degree in counseling.

(3) The individual must complete a minimum of ninety quarter hours of graduate credit in counselor training acceptable to the committee, which the individual may complete while working toward receiving a graduate degree in counseling or subsequent to receiving the degree.

(4) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a professional counselor.

(C) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division (B) of this section, counselor training must include at least the following:

(1) Instruction in human growth and development; counseling theory; counseling techniques; group dynamics, processing, and counseling; appraisal of individuals; research and evaluation; professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; social and cultural foundations; and lifestyle and career development;

(2) Participation in a supervised practicum and internship in counseling.

(D) The committee may issue a provisional license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as a professional counselor.

(E) An individual may not sit for the licensing examination unless the individual meets the educational requirements to be licensed under this section. An individual who is denied admission to the licensing examination may appeal the denial in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.27.  (A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall issue a license as an independent social worker to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section. An independent social worker license shall clearly indicate each academic degree earned by the person to whom it has been issued.

(B) To be eligible for a license as an independent social worker, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution a master's degree or a doctorate in social work.

(3) The individual must complete at least two years of post-master's degree social work experience supervised by an independent social worker.

(4) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as an independent social worker.

(C) The committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as an independent social worker.

(D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.28.  (A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall issue a license as a social worker to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section. A social worker license shall clearly indicate each academic degree earned by the person to whom it is issued.

(B) To be eligible for a license as a social worker, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution one of the following:

(a) A baccalaureate degree in social work or, prior to October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a program closely related to social work and approved by the committee;

(b) A master's degree in social work;

(c) A doctorate in social work.

(3) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a social worker.

(C) The committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as a social worker. However, the committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant who provides the board with a statement from the applicant's academic institution indicating that the applicant is in good standing with the institution, that the applicant has met the academic requirements for the applicant's degree, and the date the applicant will receive the applicant's degree.

(D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.29.  (A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, is of good moral character, and holds from an accredited educational institution an associate degree in social service technology or a bachelor's degree that is equivalent to an associate degree in social service technology or a related bachelor's or higher degree that is approved by the committee.

(B) On and after March 18, 1997, a counselor assistant certificate of registration issued under former section 4757.08 of the Revised Code shall be considered a certificate of registration as a social work assistant. The holder of the certificate is subject to the supervision requirements specified in section 4757.26 of the Revised Code, the continuing education requirements specified in section 4757.33 of the Revised Code, and regulation by the social workers professional standards committee. On the first renewal occurring after March 18, 1997, the committee shall issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to each former counselor assistant who qualifies for renewal.

(C) The social workers professional standards committee shall issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to any person who, on or before March 18, 1998, meets the requirements for a certificate of registration as a counselor assistant pursuant to division (A)(3) of former section 4757.08 of the Revised Code, submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and is of good moral character.

Sec. 4757.30.  (A) The marriage and family therapist professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall issue a license to practice as a marriage and family therapist to a person who has done all of the following:

(1) Properly completed an application for the license;

(2) Paid the required fee established by the board under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code;

(3) Achieved one of the following:

(a) Received from an educational institution accredited at the time the degree was granted by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the board a master's degree or a doctorate in marriage and family therapy;

(b) Completed a graduate degree that includes a minimum of ninety quarter hours of graduate level course work in marriage and family therapy training that is acceptable to the committee;

(4) Passed an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining the person's ability to be a marriage and family therapist;

(5) Completed a practicum that includes at least three hundred hours of client contact.

(B) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division (A)(3)(b) of this section, marriage and family therapist training must include instruction in at least the following:

(1) Research and evaluation;

(2) Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities;

(3) Marriage and family studies;

(4) Marriage and family therapy, including therapeutic theory and techniques for individuals, groups, and families;

(5) Human development;

(6) Appraisal of individuals and families;

(7) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;

(8) Systems theory.

(C) The marriage and family therapist professional standards committee shall issue a license to practice as an independent marriage and family therapist to a person who does both of the following:

(1) Meets all of the requirements of division (A) of this section;

(2) After meeting the requirements of division (A)(3) of this section, completes at least two calendar years of work experience in marriage and family therapy.

The two calendar years of work experience must include one thousand hours of documented client contact in marriage and family therapy. Two hundred hours of the one thousand hours must include face-to-face supervision by a supervisor whose training and experience meets standards established by the board in rules adopted under section 4757.10 of the Revised Code and one hundred hours of the two hundred hours of supervision must be individual supervision.

(D) An independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist may engage in the private practice of marriage and family therapy as an individual practitioner or as a member of a partnership or group practice.

(E) A marriage and family therapist may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders only under the supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist. An independent marriage and family therapist may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders without supervision.

(F) Nothing in this chapter or rules adopted under it authorizes an independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist to admit a patient to a hospital or requires a hospital to allow a marriage and family therapist to admit a patient.

(G) An independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist may not diagnose, treat, or advise on conditions outside the recognized boundaries of the marriage and family therapist's competency. An independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist shall make appropriate and timely referrals when a client's needs exceed the marriage and family therapist's competence level.

Sec. 4757.301.  On receipt of an application for a license as a marriage and family therapist, the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board may issue a temporary license to an individual who qualifies under division (A) of section 4757.30 of the Revised Code for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or divisions (A) and (C) of section 4757.30 of the Revised Code for licensure as an independent marriage and family therapist, except that the individual is awaiting the next opportunity to take an examination required by the board under that division. The temporary license allows the holder to engage in the practice of independent marriage and family therapy or marriage and family therapy as appropriate and is valid from the date of issuance until the earlier of one year from that date, the date the applicant withdraws from taking the examination, the date the applicant is notified that the applicant failed the examination, or the date the applicant's license is issued under section 4757.30 of the Revised Code. A temporary license may not be renewed.

Sec. 4757.31.  (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall establish, and may from time to time adjust, fees to be charged for the following:

(1) Examination for licensure as a professional clinical counselor, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, independent marriage and family therapist, social worker, or independent social worker;

(2) Initial licenses of professional clinical counselors, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, independent marriage and family therapists, social workers, and independent social workers, and art therapists except that the board shall charge only one fee to a person who fulfills all requirements for more than one of the following initial licenses: an initial license as a social worker or independent social worker, an initial license as a professional counselor or professional clinical counselor, and an initial license as a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist, and an initial license as an art therapist;

(3) Initial certificates of registration of social work assistants;

(4) Renewal of licenses of professional clinical counselors, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, independent marriage and family therapists, art therapists, social workers, and independent social workers and renewal of certificates of registration of social work assistants.

(B) The fees charged under division (A)(1) of this section shall be established in amounts sufficient to cover the direct expenses incurred in examining applicants for licensure. The fees charged under divisions (A)(2), (3), and (4) of this section shall be nonrefundable and shall be established in amounts sufficient to cover the necessary expenses in administering this chapter and rules adopted under it that are not covered by fees charged under division (A)(1) or (C) of this section. The renewal fee for a license or certificate of registration shall not be less than the initial fee for that license or certificate. The fees charged for licensure and registration and the renewal of licensure and registration may differ for the various types of licensure and registration, but shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars each, unless the board determines that amounts in excess of one hundred twenty-five dollars are needed to cover its necessary expenses in administering this chapter and rules adopted under it and the amounts in excess of one hundred twenty-five dollars are approved by the controlling board.

(C) All receipts of the board shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the occupational licensing and regulatory fund. All vouchers of the board shall be approved by the chairperson or executive director of the board, or both, as authorized by the board.

Sec. 4757.32.  A license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter expires two years after it is issued and may be renewed in accordance with the standard renewal procedure established under Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code.

Subject to section 4757.36 of the Revised Code, the staff of the appropriate professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall, on behalf of each committee, issue a renewed license or certificate of registration to each applicant who has paid the renewal fee established by the board under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code and, satisfied the continuing education requirements established by the board under section 4757.33 of the Revised Code, and in the case of an art therapist, maintained the appropriate certification or registration from the art therapy credentials board, inc.

A license or certificate of registration that is not renewed lapses on its expiration date. A license or certificate of registration that has lapsed may be restored if the individual, not later than two years after the license or certificate expired, applies for restoration of the license or certificate. The staff of the appropriate professional standards committee shall issue a restored license or certificate of registration to the applicant if the applicant pays the renewal fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code and satisfies the continuing education requirements established under section 4757.33 of the Revised Code for restoring the license or certificate of registration. The board and its professional standards committees shall not require a person to take an examination as a condition of having a lapsed license or certificate of registration restored.

Sec. 4757.33.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, each person who holds a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter shall complete during the period that the license or certificate is in effect not less than thirty clock hours of continuing professional education as a condition of receiving a renewed license or certificate. To have a lapsed license or certificate of registration restored, a person shall complete the number of hours of continuing education specified by the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board in rules it shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

The professional standards committees of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing standards and procedures to be followed by the committees in conducting the continuing education approval process.

(B) The board may waive the continuing education requirements established under this section for persons who are unable to fulfill them because of military service, illness, residence abroad, or any other reason the committee considers acceptable.

In the case of a social worker licensed by virtue of receiving, prior to October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a program closely related to social work, as a condition of the first renewal of the license, the social worker must complete at an accredited educational institution a minimum of five semester hours of social work graduate or undergraduate credit, or their equivalent, that is acceptable to the committee and includes a course in social work theory and a course in social work methods.

Sec. 4757.34.  Not later than ninety days after December 9, 1994, the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall approve one or more continuing education courses of study that assist social workers, independent social workers, social work assistants, independent marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapists, professional clinical counselors, and professional counselors, and art therapists in recognizing the signs of domestic violence and its relationship to child abuse. Social workers, independent social workers, social work assistants, independent marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapists, professional clinical counselors, and professional counselors, and art therapists are not required to take the courses.

Sec. 4757.36.  (A) The professional standards committees of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may refuse to issue a license or certificate of registration applied for under this chapter; refuse to renew a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter; suspend, revoke, or otherwise restrict a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter; or reprimand a person holding a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter. Such actions may be taken by the appropriate committee if the applicant for a license or certificate of registration or the person holding a license or certificate of registration has:

(1) Committed a violation of any provision of this chapter or rules adopted under it;

(2) Knowingly made a false statement on an application for licensure or registration, or for renewal of a license or certificate of registration;

(3) Accepted a commission or rebate for referring persons to any professionals licensed, certified, or registered by any court or board, commission, department, division, or other agency of the state, including, but not limited to, individuals practicing counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, or art therapy or practicing in fields related to counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, or art therapy;

(4) Failed to comply with section 4757.12 of the Revised Code;

(5) Been convicted in this or any other state of any crime that is a felony in this state;

(6) Had the ability to perform properly as a professional clinical counselor, professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, art therapist, social work assistant, social worker, or independent social worker impaired due to the use of alcohol or other drugs or any other physical or mental condition;

(7) Been convicted in this state or in any other state of a misdemeanor committed in the course of practice as a professional clinical counselor, professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, art therapist, social work assistant, social worker, or independent social worker;

(8) Practiced outside the scope of practice applicable to that person;

(9) Practiced without complying with the supervision requirements specified under sections 4757.21 and 4757.26, and division (E) of section 4757.30, of the Revised Code;

(10) Violated the person's code of ethical practice adopted by rule of the board pursuant to section 4757.11 of the Revised Code;

(11) Had a license or certificate of registration revoked or suspended, or voluntarily surrendered a license or certificate of registration in another state or jurisdiction for an offense that would be a violation of this chapter.

(B) One year or more after the date of suspension or revocation of a license or certificate of registration under this section, application may be made to the appropriate professional standards committee for reinstatement. The committee may accept or refuse an application for reinstatement. If a license has been suspended or revoked, the committee may require an examination for reinstatement.

Sec. 4757.361. (A) As used in this section, with regard to offenses committed in Ohio, "aggravated murder," "murder," "voluntary manslaughter," "felonious assault," "kidnapping," "rape," "sexual battery," "gross sexual imposition," "aggravated arson," "aggravated robbery," and "aggravated burglary" mean such offenses as defined in Title XXIX of the Revised Code; with regard to offenses committed in other jurisdictions, the terms mean offenses comparable to offenses defined in Title XXIX of the Revised Code.

(B) When there is clear and convincing evidence that continued practice by an individual licensed under this chapter presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public, as determined on consideration of the evidence by the professional standards committees of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board, the appropriate committee shall impose on the individual a summary suspension without a hearing.

Immediately following the decision to impose a summary suspension, the appropriate committee shall issue a written order of suspension and cause it to be delivered by certified mail or in person in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code. The order shall not be subject to suspension by the court during the pendency of any appeal filed under section 119.12 of the Revised Code. If the individual subject to the suspension requests an adjudication, the date set for the adjudication shall be within fifteen days but not earlier than seven days after the individual makes the request, unless another date is agreed to by both the individual and the committee imposing the suspension. The summary suspension shall remain in effect, unless reversed by the committee, until a final adjudication order issued by the committee pursuant to this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code becomes effective.

The committee shall issue its final adjudication order within ninety days after completion of the adjudication. If the committee does not issue a final order within the ninety-day period, the summary suspension shall be void, but any final adjudication order issued subsequent to the ninety-day period shall not be affected.

(C) The license issued to an individual under this chapter is automatically suspended on that individual's conviction of, plea of guilty to, or judicial finding with regard to any of the following: aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, kidnapping, rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery, or aggravated burglary. The suspension shall remain in effect from the date of the conviction, plea, or finding until an adjudication is held under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If the appropriate committee has knowledge that an automatic suspension has occurred, it shall notify the individual subject to the suspension. If the individual is notified and either fails to request an adjudication within the time periods established by Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or fails to participate in the adjudication, the committee shall enter a final order permanently revoking the person's license or certificate.

Sec. 4757.38.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall investigate alleged violations of this chapter or the rules adopted under it and alleged irregularities in the delivery of services related to professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy by persons licensed or registered under this chapter. As part of its conduct of an investigation, the board may issue subpoenas, examine witnesses, and administer oaths.

The board may receive any information necessary to conduct an investigation under this section. If the board is investigating the provision of services to a couple or group, it is not necessary for both members of the couple or all members of the group to consent to the release of information relevant to the investigation.

The board shall ensure that all records it holds pertaining to an investigation remain confidential. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures to be followed in maintaining the confidentiality of its investigative records. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.40.  In addition to any other remedies provided by law, the counselor and, social worker, marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board may apply to an appropriate court for an order enjoining the violation of any provision of this chapter, and on a showing that any person has violated or is about to violate any provision of this chapter, the court shall grant an order enjoining the violation.

Sec. 4757.43.  Nothing in this chapter or the rules adopted under it shall be construed as authorizing a professional clinical counselorprofessional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, , marriage and family therapist, independent social worker, social worker, or social work assistant a person licensed or registered under this chapter to admit a patient to a hospital or as requiring a hospital to allow any of those individuals to admit a patient.

Sec. 4757.44.  For the purposes of section 2305.51 of the Revised Code, a person who holds a license issued under this chapter is a mental health professional.

A license holder is not liable in damages in a civil action, and shall not be subject to disciplinary action by the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board, for disclosing any confidential information about a client that is disclosed for the purposes of section 2305.51 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.45.  (A) An individual seeking a license to practice as an art therapist shall submit an application to the art therapist professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board. The application shall be accompanied by the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code.

(B) The committee shall review all applications received. If an applicant submits a properly completed application and meets the requirements specified in section 4757.46 of the Revised Code, the committee shall issue to the applicant a license to practice as an art therapist.

(C) A license is valid for the period specified in rules adopted under section 4757.49 of the Revised Code and may be renewed in accordance with procedures specified in the rules.

Sec. 4757.46. To be eligible to receive a license to practice as an art therapist, an individual shall meet all of the following requirements:

(A) Be of good moral character;

(B) Be at least twenty-one years of age;

(C) Hold current certification from the art therapy credentials board, inc., and submit evidence of that certification with the application submitted under section 4757.45 of the Revised Code;

(D) Obtain three letters of recommendation from professional sources, one of which shall be from an art therapist, and submit the letters in accordance with procedures established in rules adopted under section 4757.49 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.47.  (A) The art therapist professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board may issue a temporary license to an applicant who meets any of the following requirements:

(1) Provides evidence to the committee that the applicant is currently board certified by the art therapy credentials board, inc., and further action by the committee to issue an art therapist license is pending;

(2) Provides evidence to the committee that the applicant is a registered art therapist with the art therapy credentials board, inc.;

(3) Provides evidence to the committee that the applicant holds a degree from an art therapy program approved by the American art therapy association or the equivalent of such a degree as determined by the committee.

(B) A temporary license issued under this section shall be valid for two years and may be renewed upon expiration of the initial temporary license. A temporary license may be renewed up to three times.

(C) An applicant holding a temporary license issued under this section shall practice art therapy under the supervision of a licensed art therapist and in accordance with guidelines established by the art therapy credentials board, inc.

Sec. 4757.48.  A person licensed under this chapter as an art therapist may practice art therapy through the integrated use of psychotherapeutic principles and visual art media in the assessment, evaluation, treatment, amelioration, and remediation of emotional, cognitive, neurological, psychosocial, physical, and developmental discords. A licensed art therapist may provide training and supervision to art therapy students or prospective applicants for licensure.

Sec. 4757.49.  The counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, and art therapist board shall adopt any rules necessary for implementation of sections 4757.45 to 4757.48 of the Revised Code. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 2.  That existing sections 125.22, 2151.421, 2317.02, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.05, 4757.06, 4757.07, 4757.10, 4757.101, 4757.11, 4757.12, 4757.15, 4757.16, 4757.17, 4757.18, 4757.19, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.301, 4757.31, 4757.32, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.361, 4757.38, 4757.40, 4757.43, and 4757.44 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3.  Within ninety days after the effective date of this section, the Governor shall appoint the initial art therapist members and the additional public member of the Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, and Art Therapist Board, in accordance with section 4757.03 of the Revised Code, as amended by this act. The art therapist appointees are not required, at the time of appointment, to be licensed as art therapists. However, the appointees may remain members only if the appointees become licensed as art therapists within one year after the effective date of this section.

Section 4.  Until one year after the effective date of this section, the Board shall issue an art therapist license to an applicant who is of good moral character, submits a properly completed application, pays the fee for art therapist licensure established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the following requirements on the effective date of this section:

(A) The applicant is licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a professional clinical counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, or independent social worker; licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code as a psychologist; or licensed under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code and is board-certified to practice as a psychiatrist.

(B) The person holds a degree in art therapy or the equivalent of such a degree as determined by the Board.

(C) Provides evidence to the Board's Art Therapist Professional Standards Committee that the applicant has practiced art therapy for at least five years within the ten years immediately preceeding the effective date of this act.