state committee of psychologists

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 2065

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Reported from the Committee on Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections, April 14, 2008, with recommendation that the Senate Committee Substitute do pass and be placed on the Consent Calendar.

TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.

4864S.02C

AN ACT

To repeal sections 337.029 and 337.068, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the state committee of psychologists.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Sections 337.029 and 337.068, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 337.029 and 337.068, to read as follows:

337.029. 1. A psychologist licensed in another jurisdiction who has had no violations and no suspensions and no revocation of a license to practice psychology in any jurisdiction may receive a license in Missouri, provided the psychologist passes a written examination on Missouri laws and regulations governing the practice of psychology and meets one of the following criteria:

(1) Is a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology;

(2) Is a member of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology;

(3) Is currently licensed or certified as a psychologist in another jurisdiction who is then a signatory to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board's reciprocity agreement;

(4) Is currently licensed or certified as a psychologist in another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia and:

(a) Has a doctoral degree in psychology from a program accredited, or provisionally accredited, by the American Psychological Association or that meets the requirements as set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection 3 of section 337.025;

(b) Has been licensed for the preceding five years; and

(5) [Is currently licensed or certified as a psychologist in a state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia that extends like privileges for reciprocal licensing or certification to persons licensed by this state with similar qualifications; or

(6)] Holds a current certificate of professional qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1 of this section, applicants may be required to pass an oral examination as adopted by the committee.

3. A psychologist who receives a license for the practice of psychology in the state of Missouri on the basis of reciprocity as listed in subsection 1 of this section or by endorsement of the score from the examination of professional practice in psychology score will also be eligible for and shall receive certification from the committee as a health service provider if the psychologist meets one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Is a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology in one or more of the specialties recognized by the American Board of Professional Psychology as pertaining to health service delivery;

(2) Is a member of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology; or

(3) Has completed or obtained through education, training, or experience the requisite knowledge comparable to that which is required pursuant to section 337.033.

337.068. 1. If the board finds merit to a complaint by an individual incarcerated or under the care and control of the department of corrections or who has been ordered to be taken into custody, detained, or held under sections 632.480 to 632.513, RSMo, and takes further investigative action, no documentation may appear on file or disciplinary action may be taken in regards to the licensee's license unless the provisions of subsection 2 of section 337.035 have been violated. Any case file documentation that does not result in the board filing an action pursuant to subsection 2 of section 337.035 shall be destroyed within three months after the final case disposition by the board. No notification to any other licensing board in another state or any national registry regarding any investigative action shall be made unless the provisions of subsection 2 of section 337.035 have been violated.

2. Upon written request of the psychologist subject to a complaint, prior to August 28, 1999, by an individual incarcerated or under the care and control of the department of corrections or prior to August 28, 2008, by an individual who has been ordered to be taken into custody, detained, or held under sections 632.480 to 632.513, RSMo, that did not result in the board filing an action pursuant to subsection 2 of section 337.035, the board and the division of professional registration, shall in a timely fashion:

(1) Destroy all documentation regarding the complaint;

(2) Notify any other licensing board in another state or any national registry regarding the board's actions if they have been previously notified of the complaint; and

(3) Send a letter to the licensee that clearly states that the board found the complaint to be unsubstantiated, that the board has taken the requested action, and notify the licensee of the provisions of subsection 3 of this section.

3. Any person who has been the subject of an unsubstantiated complaint as provided in subsection 1 or 2 of this section shall not be required to disclose the existence of such complaint in subsequent applications or representations relating to their psychology professions.

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