Health & Committee of the Whole Joint Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE ON HEALTH COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 COUNCILMEMBER CHRISTINA HENDERSON, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND COUNCILMEMBER PHIL MENDELSON, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ANNOUNCES A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON B25-287 - Counseling Compact Approval Act of 2023 And B25-286 - Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Approval Act of 2023 ON Thursday December 7, 2023, 10:00 a.m. Hybrid in Room 500 and Virtual via Zoom To Watch Live: https://dccouncil.gov/council-videos/ https://www.christinahendersondc.com/live https://www.youtube.com/@cmchenderson Councilmember Christina Henderson, Chair of the Committee on Health, and Councilmember Phil Mendelson, Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole, announce a joint hearing on B25-287 - Counseling Compact Approval Act of 2023 and B25-286 - Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Approval Act of 2023. The hearing will be held on Thursday December 7, 2023, at 10:00a.m.  The purpose of B25-287 is to authorize the Mayor to enter into and execute a Counseling Compact for the purpose of increasing access to licensed professional counseling. It would establish requirements for states to conduct and report adverse actions and the consequences. It would require all compact states to share licensee information with other compact states and would establish the Counseling Compact Commission. Among other things, it would provide for oversight and enforcement of the compact by participating states. The stated purpose of B25-286 is to authorize the Mayor to execute an Occupational Therapy Interjurisdictional Compact for the purpose of increasing access to in-person practice of occupational therapy. It would create requirements for home state licensure and education and training for participating compact occupational therapists. It would also establish requirements for states to conduct and report adverse actions and require all compact states to share licensee information with other compact states. It creates a coordinated database on participating compact occupational therapists and establishes the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Commission. Witnesses will be appearing virtually using the Zoom platform. Public witnesses will have 5 minutes to speak if they are representing an organization, and 3 minutes if they are speaking for themselves. The public should sign up at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings by 5pm on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Witnesses who anticipate needing spoken language interpretation, or require sign language interpretation, are requested to inform the Committee office of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before the proceeding. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, although alternatives may be offered. Requests received in less than five business days may not be fulfilled. If you have additional questions, please email Ashley Strange, Legislative Assistant at astrange@dccouncil.gov. Testimony should be submitted through the Council’s Hearing Management System https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings in advance of the hearing. Testimony will be publicly accessible upon Committee review. If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Statements for the record should be submitted through the Hearing Management System or left by voicemail by calling (202) 430- 6046. The record will close at 5:00pm on Thursday, December 21, 2023.