Section 11833 Of Chapter 7. Quality Assurance From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 10.5. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 7.
11833
. (a) The department shall have the sole authority in state
government to determine the qualifications, including the appropriate
skills, education, training, and experience of personnel working
within alcoholism or drug abuse recovery and treatment programs
licensed, certified, or funded under this part.
(b) (1) Except for licensed professionals, as defined by the
department, the department shall require that an individual providing
counseling services working within a program described in
subdivision (a) be registered with or certified by a certifying
organization approved by the department to register and certify
counselors.
(2) The department shall not approve a certifying organization
that does not, prior to registering or certifying an individual,
contact other department-approved certifying organizations to
determine whether the individual has ever had his or her registration
or certification revoked.
(c) If a counselor's registration or certification has been
previously revoked, the certifying organization shall deny the
request for registration and shall send the counselor a written
notice of denial. The notice shall specify the counselor's right to
appeal the denial in accordance with applicable statutes and
regulations.
(d) The department shall have the authority to conduct periodic
reviews of certifying organizations to determine compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations, including subdivision (c), and to
take actions for noncompliance, including revocation of the
department's approval.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the
department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall
implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of
all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or
similar instructions until the time that regulations are adopted.
(2) The department shall adopt regulations by December 31, 2017,
in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government
Code.