All Roll Calls
Yes: 107 • No: 5
PennsylvaniaSB 6042025-2026 Regular SessionSenate
An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.
Sponsored By: Lisa M. Boscola (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.
Counselors gain interstate practice with fees
Eligible licensed counselors can practice in other Counseling Compact states, including through telehealth. They need a current, unrestricted home-state license, a valid Social Security number or National Provider Identifier, and two years without license restrictions. Counselors must notify the Commission, pay applicable fees, and meet continuing education and state-law testing requirements. They must follow the laws and service limits of the state where they provide care. They must report license restrictions or discipline from nonmember states within 30 days. Practice privileges depend on a current home-state license; restrictions suspend privileges until resolved and followed by two restriction-free years. Losing a privilege in one state can also affect privileges elsewhere.
Military counselors can keep their home state
Active-duty service members and their spouses can choose a Compact home state where they hold a counseling license in good standing. They can keep that choice throughout the service member's active duty. They can change the designation through a new state license application or the Compact's transfer process.
Shared commission sets binding counseling rules
A joint commission runs the Counseling Compact, with one delegate chosen by each member state's counseling board. Member states must enforce the Compact and its binding rules; later-joining states must follow rules already adopted. The Compact overrides state law only where the two conflict, and lawful Commission actions and agreements bind member states. Proposed rules generally require public notice and a chance to comment. Emergency rules can start without advance notice, but the Commission must follow the required review process within 90 days. Closed meetings are limited to specified matters, and their minutes stay sealed unless the Commission or a court orders release.
Pennsylvania joins interstate counseling agreement
Pennsylvania joins the Counseling Compact under a law effective 60 days after enactment. The Compact's activation trigger is enactment by the tenth member state, after which the Commission first assembles and adopts rules. That trigger does not itself set a calendar date for counselors to begin interstate practice. A state can leave by repealing its Compact law, with withdrawal taking effect six months later. Its counseling board must continue required investigation and discipline reporting during those six months, and withdrawal does not erase prior reporting duties.
Commission personnel gain civil liability protection
Commission members, officers, employees, and representatives are shielded from civil liability for covered work within their duties. The protection does not cover intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct. The Commission must defend covered personnel and pay qualifying claims, settlements, and judgments. These protections limit civil claims by people alleging harm from covered conduct.
States and users fund counseling commission
The Commission can charge member states yearly assessments and charge other parties fees for operating costs not covered by other revenue. A binding Commission rule sets the formula dividing assessments among states. The law sets no assessment or fee amounts. The Commission cannot take on obligations without funds or pledge a state's credit without authority. It must maintain financial controls and obtain an independent yearly audit.
Moving counselors get a license-transfer process
Counselors moving between member states must apply for a new home-state license, notify both states, and pay applicable fees. The new state checks eligibility through the shared database. Extra source checks are limited to required fingerprint, criminal background, and state-law testing checks. Once the new license starts, the former home-state license becomes a practice privilege. Counselors have only one Compact home state, but may hold separate single-state licenses. Single-state licensing rules apply to moves involving nonmember states and may apply when counselors do not meet Compact requirements.
States face penalties for Compact violations
The Commission must notify states that break Compact duties and offer training and technical help. After other compliance steps fail, a majority of member states can end a state's membership. That state remains liable for assessments and obligations through termination; the Commission pays related costs only under a written agreement. The Commission can also vote by majority to sue a defaulting state for court orders or damages. The winning side recovers litigation costs, including reasonable lawyer fees. Lawsuits and state appeals go to federal court in Washington, D.C., or where the Commission has its main office. At a state's request, the Commission must try to resolve Compact disputes through mediation and, when appropriate, binding dispute resolution.
States share counselor records and discipline
Member states must submit licensing, discipline, denial, and required investigation records to a shared Commission database. Investigation details are limited to member states; contributing states can restrict public access, and legally expunged records must be removed. States can investigate together, share evidence, and enforce subpoenas through courts. A state where a counselor practices can restrict that practice privilege, but only the home state can discipline its license. Home states must treat reported out-of-state conduct like local conduct and finish pending investigations after a counselor moves. Actions must follow state law and due process; states may recover investigation costs only when their laws allow. States may use alternative programs instead of discipline when state law permits.
States must check counselor qualifications
Member states must require graduate counseling education totaling at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours in specified subjects. They must also require an approved national exam, supervised postgraduate experience, and a process to investigate complaints. States must check criminal histories for initial practice privileges, using fingerprints or other biometric information. Full FBI background checks must begin by the deadline set through Commission rules. States may charge practice-privilege fees; the law sets no amount. Federal criminal records from the specified FBI checks cannot be included in messages verifying Compact eligibility.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Lisa M. Boscola
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Amanda M. Cappelletti
Democratic • Senate
Carolyn T. Comitta
Democratic • Senate
Greg Rothman
Republican • Senate
Jay Costa
Democratic • Senate
Judith L. Schwank
Democratic • Senate
Judy Ward
Republican • Senate
Kristin Phillips-Hill
Republican • Senate
Nick Pisciottano
Democratic • Senate
Rosemary M. Brown
Republican • Senate
Tracy Pennycuick
Republican • Senate
Wayne D. Fontana
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
committee vote • 6/24/2026
26 0
Yes: 26 • No: 0
Senate vote • 7/17/2025
Senate Bill 604 PN0612, Final Passage
Yes: 45 • No: 5
committee vote • 7/16/2025
22 0
Yes: 22 • No: 0
committee vote • 6/3/2025
14 0
Yes: 14 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 23 of 2026
7/12/2026GovernorApproved by the Governor
7/12/2026GovernorPresented to the Governor
7/11/2026HouseSigned in Senate
7/11/2026HouseSigned in House
6/30/2026HouseThird consideration and final passage (188-14)
6/30/2026HouseRe-reported as committed
6/30/2026HouseRe-referred to Appropriations
6/29/2026HouseSecond consideration
6/29/2026HouseRemoved from table
6/24/2026HouseLaid on the table
6/24/2026HouseFirst consideration
6/24/2026HouseReported as committed
6/24/2026HouseReferred to Professional Licensure
7/17/2025HouseThird consideration and final passage (45-5)
7/17/2025SenateRe-reported as committed
7/16/2025SenateRe-referred to Appropriations
6/9/2025SenateSecond consideration
6/9/2025SenateFirst consideration
6/3/2025SenateReported as committed
6/3/2025SenateReferred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure
4/9/2025Senate
Bill Text
PN 612
4/9/2025
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