Bill Description: House Bill 73 would clarify that a licensed counselor can work in Idaho's drug courts and mental health courts, even if the counselor has a past criminal conviction.

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Does it increase barriers to entry into the market? Examples include occupational licensure, the minimum wage, and restrictions on home businesses. Conversely, does it remove barriers to entry into the market?

House Bill 73 would create Section 19-5610, Idaho Code, to say that a licensed counselor "who is in good standing with the Idaho state licensing board of professional counselors and marriage and family therapists" shall not be "automatically disqualified from providing professional counseling services because of a prior criminal conviction."

The board would still be allowed to consider the "relevancy of a licensee's prior criminal conviction," but the automatic disqualification found in the Department of Health and Welfare's rules would be removed.

This change would remove a government-imposed barrier to participation in the market. 

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