The Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (board) proposes new §801.301 and §801.302, concerning the licensure and regulation of marriage and family therapists.

The proposed new rules are necessary to promote consistency in the evaluation, investigation, and resolution of complaints by program staff, and fair administration and imposition of disciplinary rules. The new rules outline relevant factors, determination of sanctions, severity levels, and provide a sanction guide to be used by the ethics committee when considering disciplinary actions.

Andrew Marks, Executive Director, for the board has determined that for each year of the first five years the sections will be in effect, there will be no fiscal impact on state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the sections as proposed.

Mr. Marks also has determined that for each year of the first five years the sections are in effect, the public benefit as a result of enforcing or administering the sections will be to insure that disciplinary actions are considered in a consistent manner. There is no anticipated cost to micro or small businesses or persons who are required to comply with the sections as proposed because the new rules are for the use of program staff in carrying out administrative duties and impose no fees, costs, or duty to act on any member of the public. There is no anticipated impact on local employment.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Andrew Marks, Executive Director, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3183, telephone (512) 834-6657. Comments will be accepted for 30 days following the date of publication of this proposal in the Texas Register.

The new sections are proposed under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 502, which provides the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists with the authority to adopt rules concerning the regulation of marriage and family therapists.

The new sections affect the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 502.