§ 2 — Duties of department

[ Text of section effective until March 23, 2025. For text effective March 23, 2025, see below.]Section 2. The department shall establish the requirements for the licensing of alcohol and drug counselors practicing in the commonwealth, evaluate the qualifications of applicants, supervise licensing examinations, collect fees established for licensing and examination, grant and issue licenses to alcohol and drug counselors who satisfy the department's requirements for licensing, require and establish continuing education requirements, investigate complaints and take appropriate disciplinary action to protect the public health, safety and welfare.The department shall establish requirements for licensed alcohol and drug counselors I and II and may establish other reasonable classifications for alcohol and drug counselors as it finds necessary and appropriate, taking into consideration different levels of education, training and work experience.The department shall approve and issue certificates of approval of programs for the training of alcohol and drug counselors. The department shall maintain a list of approved programs as well as a current roster of persons serving as licensed alcohol and drug counselors in the commonwealth.The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter including rules and regulations establishing the educational and professional requirements for licensing alcohol and drug counselors, establishing fees for licensing and examination and governing the practice and employment of licensed alcohol and drug counselors to promote the public health, safety and welfare.Chapter 111J: Section 2. Duties of department[ Text of section as recodified by 2024, 285, Sec. 11 effective March 23, 2025. For text effective until March 23, 2025, see above.]Section 2. (a) The department shall establish and administer a program for the licensure of alcohol and drug counselors and recovery coaches. The department shall: (i) establish the licensure requirements for licensed alcohol and drug counselors practicing in the commonwealth; (ii) establish the licensure requirements for licensed recovery coaches practicing in the commonwealth; (iii) evaluate the qualifications of applicants for licensure; (iv) supervise licensing examinations, where applicable; (v) establish and collect fees for licensing and examination, where applicable; (vi) grant and issue licenses to applicants who satisfy the department's requirements for licensure; (vii) establish continuing education requirements; (viii) investigate complaints; (ix) take appropriate disciplinary action to protect the public health, safety and welfare; and (x) perform other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out this chapter.(b) The department shall establish requirements for licensed alcohol and drug counselors I and licensed alcohol and drug counselors II and may establish other reasonable classifications for alcohol and drug counselors as it finds necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, alcohol and drug counselors specializing in youth recovery counseling, taking into consideration different levels of education, training and work experience.(c) The department shall establish requirements for licensed recovery coaches, including, but not limited to, establishing an ethical code of conduct for recovery coaches, and may establish other reasonable classifications for recovery coaches as it finds necessary and appropriate, taking into consideration different levels of education, training and work experience.(d) The department shall approve and issue certificates of approval of programs for the training of alcohol and drug counselors. The department shall maintain a list of approved programs and a current roster of persons serving as licensed alcohol and drug counselors in the commonwealth.(e) The department shall approve and issue certificates of approval of programs for the training of recovery coaches. The department shall maintain a list of approved programs and a current roster of persons serving as licensed recovery coaches in the commonwealth.(f) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this chapter, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations establishing the educational and professional requirements for licensing individuals under this chapter, establishing fees for licensing and examination, where applicable, and governing the practice and employment of licensees to promote the public health, safety and welfare.