# Fla. Stat. § 491.002: 491.002 Intent

> Florida · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.002

## Section

- **Citation:** Fla. Stat. § 491.002
- **Heading:** 491.002 Intent
- **Jurisdiction:** Florida
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Florida Code / Title XXXII / Chapter 491 / Section 491.002

## Text

The Legislature finds that as society becomes increasingly complex, emotional survival is equal in importance to physical survival. Therefore, in order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the Legislature must provide privileged communication for members of the public or those acting on their behalf to encourage needed or desired counseling, clinical and psychotherapy services, or certain other services of a psychological nature to be sought out. The Legislature further finds that, since such services assist the public primarily with emotional survival, which in turn affects physical and psychophysical survival, the practice of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling by persons not qualified to practice such professions presents a danger to public health, safety, and welfare. The Legislature finds that, to further secure the health, safety, and welfare of the public and also to encourage professional cooperation among all qualified professionals, the Legislature must assist the public in making informed choices of such services by establishing minimum qualifications for entering into and remaining in the respective professions.

History: ss. 15, 19, ch. 87-252; ss. 19, 20, ch. 90-263; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

## Nearby sections

- [Fla. Stat. § 491.002 491.002 Intent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.002.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.003 491.003 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.003.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.004 491.004 Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.004.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.005 491.005 Licensure by examination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.005.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.006 491.006 Licensure or certification by endorsement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.006.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.007 491.007 Renewal of license, registration, or certificate.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.007.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.008 491.008 Inactive status; reactivation of licenses; fees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.008.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.009 491.009 Discipline.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.009.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.012 491.012 Violations; penalty; injunction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.012.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.014 491.014 Exemptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.014.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.015 491.015 Duties of the department as to certified master social workers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.015.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.016 491.016 Social work; use of title.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.016.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.017 491.017 Professional Counselors Licensure Compact.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.017.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 491.018 491.018 Professional Counselors Licensure Compact; public records and meetings exemptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.018.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C491_S491.002. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.