Marriage and family therapist reciprocity, child care liability bill passed

Senators passed a bill May 14 that allows marriage and family therapists from other jurisdictions to more easily obtain a Nebraska license.

Under LB257, sponsored by Grand Island Sen. Dan Quick, the state Department of Health and Human Services is required to issue a license to a marriage and family therapist based on a licensure in another jurisdiction if that individual:
• has a valid, independent and unrestricted license in another state or territory;
• completes an application and pays all applicable fees; and
• has passed the Nebraska jurisprudence examination.

The bill includes the amended provisions of Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt’s LB274. Those provisions require that entities licensed under the Child Care Licensing Act in Nebraska maintain the required level of liability insurance for any time period during which a child is in the licensee’s care.

DHHS inspectors are required to verify current proof of liability insurance at each scheduled inspection. Providers who are unable to provide such proof, or whose policy has lapsed, will have three business days to provide the required proof or have their license suspended until such proof is provided.

LB257 passed on a 46-3 vote.