• Next steps: SB 788 was introduced in the State Senate by Senators Wyland (Republican) and Steinberg (Democrat) on February 27, 2009.  This bill will need to pass in the Senate and in the Assembly in this legislative session. The bill passed in the Senate on June 3, 2009 and it has been referred to the Assembly, where it will be amended.  The bill will return to the Senate for concurrence on the amendments.
  
  Bill Status:
  Visit www.leginfo.ca.gov to see the current status of SB 788.
  
  
• Working with the opposition:
  CCCL has been working in good faith to address the concerns outlined by the California Psychological Association (CPA) and The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)-California Chapter.  An agreement was reached on June 3, 2009 and amendments, to reflect this agreement, will be taken in the Assembly..
  
  Neutrality

  The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the California Society for Clinical Social Work, and the National Association of Social Workers have been neutral on the bill.

  Support

  Following is a partial list of organizations that support Counselor Licensure in California:

  California Support:
  California Psychiatric Association
  California State Board of Behavioral Sciences
  American Red Cross California Chapters
  California Primary Care Association
  California State Rural Health Association
  California Counseling Association
  California Mental Health Counselors Association
  California Registry for Professional Counselors
  California Association for Counselor Education & Supervision
  California Career Development Association
  California Rehabilitation Counseling Association
  California Rehabilitation Association
  California Association of School Counselors
  Northern California Art Therapy Association
  Southern California Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association

  National Support:
  Department of the Navy – Southwest Region
  American Association of State Counseling Boards
  American Counseling Association
  American Mental Health Counselors Association
  American Art Therapy Association
  American Dance Therapy Association
  Association for Counselor Education & Supervision
  Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
  National Board for Certified Counselors
  National Career Development Association
  National Rehabilitation Counseling Association

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We need every California counselor to get involved and help us to press forward in this effort:

• Advocacy Network:
  
  CCCL needs counselors to participate in a grassroots network throughout California. Counselors will be given the tools and guidance well in advance in order to request support for the bill from their State Senator and Assembly Member. Please let us know if you will participate in this CCCL networking opportunity by responding to info@caccl.org.
  
  CCCL Database: Counselors who register their contact information under How to Support on this website will receive periodic updates on our progress. CCCL communicates through email, so it is important for counselors to keep us informed of their current email address.
  
  Financial Contributions: CCCL is dependent on contributions from counselors to cover its legislative expenses. In order to maintain the effort, CCCL must continue to build its treasury. Please download the form under How to Support on this website and mail it with your donation.