AB 705 — Psychologists: licensure exemption.

Summary

The Psychology Licensing Law provides for the licensure and regulation of psychologists by the Board of Psychology and makes a violation of its provisions a misdemeanor. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in the practice of psychology or representing himself or herself to be a psychologist without a license, except as specified. Existing law provides that a person, including, but not limited to, a person who holds a valid and current credential as a school psychologist issued by the State Department of Education, is not restricted or prevented from conducting activities of a psychological nature or the use of the official title of his or her position, provided that person is performing those activities as part of the duties for which he or she was employed, is performing those activities solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the organization in which he or she is employed, and does not offer to render or render psychological services, as specified, to the public for a fee over and above the salary he or she receives for the performance of his or her official duties with the organization. This bill would revise and recast those provisions, including modifying those permissive provisions to not restrict or prevent from conducting activities of a psychological nature, or the use of the official title of his or her position, a person who holds a valid and current credential as a school psychologist issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The bill would similarly not so restrict or prevent a person employed in a position as a psychologist or psychological assistant by one of specified entities from conducting research and disseminating his or her research findings and scientific information. The bill would also not so restrict or prevent a person with specified education and training employed as prescribed by a nonprofit community agency that receives a certain percentage of financial support from governmental organizations for the purpose of training and providing services. The bill would require those persons to be registered by the agency with the board at the time of employment and identify such a person in the setting as a "registered psychologist." The bill would exempt those registered psychologists from licensure for a maximum period of 30 months from the date of registration. Existing law also provides that the licensing law does not restrict or prevent activities of a psychological nature on the part of a person who is a salaried employee of an accredited or approved academic institution, public school, or governmental agency, provided that, among other restrictions, the person does not offer services to the public for a fee or provide direct health or mental health services. This bill would instead provide that the licensing law does not restrict the practice of psychology on the part of a person who is a salaried employee of an accredited or approved academic institution, public school, or governmental agency, in accordance with specified restrictions. The bill would delete the existing restrictions on offering services to the public for a fee and on providing direct health or mental health services. The bill would additionally require such an employee to primarily be gaining the supervised professional experience required for licensure, as specified, in order to practice psychology without a license. That exemption would apply to an individual employee for a cumulative total of 5 years of employment after January 1, 2016.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 08/17/15 - Chaptered Current pdf August 17, 2015
• Enrolled 07/08/15 - Enrolled pdf July 08, 2015
• Amended 06/11/15 - Amended Senate pdf June 11, 2015
• Amended 06/01/15 - Amended Senate pdf June 01, 2015
• Amended 04/08/15 - Amended Assembly pdf April 08, 2015
• Introduced 02/25/15 - Introduced pdf February 25, 2015
• AB705 View text html

Action History

1. August 17, 2015

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 218, Statutes of 2015.

2. August 17, 2015

   Approved by the Governor.

3. August 03, 2015

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

4. July 06, 2015

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 2255.).

5. July 02, 2015

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after July 4 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

6. July 02, 2015

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1755.).

7. June 30, 2015

   Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

8. June 29, 2015

   From committee: Be placed on second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.

9. June 11, 2015

   Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

10. June 10, 2015

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 8).

11. June 01, 2015

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E.D.

12. May 14, 2015

    Referred to Com. on B., P. & E.D.

13. April 30, 2015

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

14. April 30, 2015

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 1224.)

15. April 23, 2015

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

16. April 22, 2015

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 22).

17. April 09, 2015

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

18. April 08, 2015

    Read second time and amended.

19. April 07, 2015

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 7).

20. March 12, 2015

    Referred to Com. on B. & P.

21. February 26, 2015

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 28.

22. February 25, 2015

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Eggman · Primary

Votes

Subjects