State board will oppose counseling bill in Tennessee Senate

A state regulatory board will oppose a state Senate bill that many counselors in the state say is "unwanted government overreach" and unnecessary though the sponsor says he's advocating on behalf of other counselors who don't hold the same views and wants to find common ground.

The bill introduced by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, would prohibit the state board from adopting any rule that references a national code of ethics if that rule conflicts with the practitioner's beliefs. The board the bill references specifically will oppose that bill, based on the unanimous vote by its board on Friday.

"Senate Bill 0001 is not good for the public or this board," said Peter Wilson, a professor of counseling at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.

Justin Briggs, a faculty member at Lipscomb, agreed with Wilson.

"I don't believe anybody asked for this legislation," he said, also calling it "unwanted and unnecessary."

Read more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/20/state-board-oppose-counseling-bill-tennessee-senate/96831320/

[font color=330099]This bill will allow counselors to deny service to anyone for religious beliefs.[/font]