State Affairs: Interstate Compact Updates

The Interstate Compact for Licensure (“Counseling Compact”), which the American Counseling Association (ACA) has partnered with the Council of State Governments (CSG), the National Council for Interstate Compacts (NCIC), and leading professional organizations within the counseling field on, is nearing completion. The drafting of the Counseling Compact has been an independent process facilitated by the CSG through participatory methodology inclusive of a diverse coalition, including ACA. The process has been largely successful, and we are looking to 2021 for introduction to state legislatures.

Independent stakeholder review sessions of proposed compact language began in the early fall of this year and included presentations for state boards, counselors, legislators and ACA branches. Over 34 sessions were conducted with licensing boards and other stakeholder groups which provided information about the compact and an opportunity for both verbal and written feedback. Anyone, regardless of whether they attended a formal information session, was able to submit feedback until September 30, 2020, when the comment period ended.

Following review sessions with the public, CSG began facilitating workshops with the bill drafting team, including their legal experts on interstate compact language, to discuss the feedback gathered and to update the Counseling Compact language accordingly. Members of the drafting committee met a couple days a week during the month of October, finalizing updated draft language for final review by the advisory committee. The advisory committee met several times throughout November for a final review of updated language. The last full review occurs December 4 and we are hopeful to have an approved public facing draft available for ACA members by end of the calendar year.

ACA’s Government Affairs team has collaborated with CSG on ensuring that advocacy material is available for the counseling community online. The advocacy toolkit for the Counseling Compact, including talking points, fact sheets, and materials for meetings with elected officials, will also be available by the end of the calendar year at CounselingCompact.org. CSG has secured this domain and is hosting this information to meet the needs of the coalition, provide necessary updates on compact developments, and further facilitate engagement with members of the public interested in learning more and taking action.

Although COVID-19 will dramatically impact 2021 legislative sessions, we are aiming to introduce the final language to state legislatures in key states by mid-February. We are aiming for an inclusive process that encourages all interested states and territories to take action within their communities. However, ACA is currently working on a list of key states to focus on for compact advocacy throughout 2021 that is comprised largely of those states with a long history of successful compacts. Our goal is to secure a core group of 10 member states which sign onto the compact and then to grow the compact from the precedent established by the first 10 states. Given that legislatures will be struggling under the weight of COVID-19, we may be looking at a longer process for successfully enlisting our core 10 states that rolls over into the 2022 session.

For more information on the Counseling Compact, please visit ACA’s website.