(a) Appropriate requests.

1. (1) State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors members may request that the Ethics Committee of the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board issue formal interpretations of the Code of Ethics, 17 CAR pt. 390, for the purpose of guiding the member’s own professional behavior.

2. (2) Requests for interpretations will not be considered in the following situations:

   1. (A) The individual requesting the interpretations is not a board member; or
   2. (B)

(i) The request is intended to determine whether the behavior of another mental health professional is unethical.

1. (ii) In the event a board member believes the behavior of another mental health professional is unethical, the board member should resolve the issue directly with the professional, if possible, and should file an ethical complaint if appropriate.

(b) Procedures.

1. (1) Members must send written requests for interpretations to the committee through the board’s office.

2. (2) Questions should:

   1. (A) Be submitted in the following format: “Does (counselor behavior) violate Sections or any other sections of the Ethical Standards?”;
   2. (B) Avoid unique details;
   3. (C) Be general in nature to the extent possible; and
   4. (D) Be brief.
3. (3) The committee staff liaison will revise the question, if necessary, and submit it to the committee co-chair for approval.
4. (4) The question will be sent to committee members who will be asked to respond individually.
5. (5) The committee co-chair will develop a consensus interpretation on behalf of the committee.
6. (6) The consensus interpretation will be sent to members of the committee for final approval.
7. (7) The formal interpretation will be sent to the member who submitted the inquiry.
8. (8) The question and the formal interpretation will be published in the board’s newsletter, but the identity of the member requesting the interpretation will not be disclosed.