2016 -- H 8199

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LC005940

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - PSYCHOLOGISTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, McNamara, Blazejewski, and Naughton

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 5-44-1, 5-44-12 and 5-44-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-44

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entitled "Psychologists" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-44-1. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter:

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      (1) "Academic psychologist" means a person employed by or associated with a

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recognized college or university or other recognized institution who is engaged in teaching,

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studying, or conducting research in the science of psychology.

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      (2) "Board" means the board of psychology established by § 5-44-3.

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      (3) "Education" means the academic program pursued by a person in obtaining a

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doctoral degree, that program to include formal course work, seminars, and practica.

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      (4) "Licensed psychologist" means a person who has been licensed for the practice of

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psychology under this chapter. "Psychologist" as used in this chapter means a licensed

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psychologist as defined in this section.

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     (5) "Licensed school psychologist" means a school psychologist who meets the

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qualifications set forth in §5-44-9.1.

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      (5)(6) "Practice of psychology" means the rendering of professional psychological

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services to individuals, groups, families, or any public or private organization for remuneration.

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Professional psychological services means applying established psychological principles,

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methods, or procedures for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive or

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undesired behavior and of enhancing interpersonal relationships, work and life adjustment,

 

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personal effectiveness, and mental health. The practice of psychology includes, but is not limited

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to:

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      (i) Diagnoses and treatment of emotional, mental or behavioral dysfunction, disorder or

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disability, alcoholism and substance abuse disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the

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psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury, or disability;

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      (ii) Psychological testing and evaluation of intelligence, personality, abilities, interests,

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aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning;

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      (iii) Psychoeducation evaluation, therapy, remediation and consultation; and

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      (iv) Counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, biofeedback and

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behavior analysis and therapy.

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      (6)(7) "Psychology student", "psychology trainee", "psychology intern", or "psychology

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resident" means a student, intern, or other person studying or preparing for the profession of

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psychologist under the supervision of recognized educational or training institutions or facilities.

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      (7)(8) "Training" means the pre-professional or professional supervised experience

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received by the person at the pre or post-doctoral level, that experience to have been obtained in

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an internship, clinic, or other similar professional setting.

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      (8)(9) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health.

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      (9)(10) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

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     5-44-12. Application fee. -- The applicant applying for licensure as a psychologist or a

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licensed school psychologist shall pay a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 to the department.

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     5-44-13. Temporary license. -- (a) Pursuant to §§ 5-44-6 and 5-44-23(e) of this chapter

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and rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, a temporary permit to practice psychology

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under supervision may be granted to a candidate for licensure who has paid the required fee as set

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forth in § 23-1-54 and has satisfied the following requirements:

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      (1) Filed an application for licensure with all required supporting materials;

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      (2) Has received a doctoral degree in accordance with § 5-44-10, and successfully

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completed one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of supervision satisfactory to the board as

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specified in the rules and regulations;

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      (3) Shall only practice under the appropriate supervision of a licensed psychologist as

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delineated in the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder;

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      (4) Shall refrain from using the title "psychologist" or "licensed school psychologist" or

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representing himself or herself as a psychologist other than by using the title "psychology

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student", "psychology trainee" or "psychology intern", or "psychology resident" or "licensed

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school psychologist trainee"; and

 

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      (5) The temporary permit shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of

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issuance.

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      (b) Temporary permit holders may request from the board a one year extension. Such an

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extension may be granted at the discretion of the board upon review of the applicant's

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circumstances. This extension shall only be granted once.

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     5-44-15. Expiration and renewal of licenses -- Continuing education -- Lapsed

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license. -- (a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall

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expire on the first day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her

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license.

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      (b) On or before the first day of May of each even-numbered year, the department shall

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mail an application for renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or

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renewed during the cycle.

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      (c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the

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department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54,

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on or before the first day of June in each even-numbered year. Upon receipt of a renewal

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application and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy of the application shall be verified and

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the department may grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring the June 30th in each

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even-numbered year.

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      (d) Every licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist who desires to continue

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licensure as a licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist shall present satisfactory

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evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of the board that the licensed

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psychologist or licensed school psychologist has completed a prescribed course of continuing

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licensed psychological or school psychological education.

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      (e) Any person who allows his or her license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or before

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June 1st in each even-numbered year, as provided in this section, may be reinstated by the

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department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.

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Any person using the title "psychologist" or offering services defined as the practice of

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psychology under this chapter during the time his or her license has lapsed is subject to the

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penalties provided for violation of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 5-44 of the General Laws entitled "Psychologists" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     5-44-9.1. Qualifications for licensed school psychologist. – An applicant for licensure

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shall submit to the board written evidence on forms furnished by the professional regulation unit

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of the department of labor and training verified under oath, that said applicant:

 

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     (1) Is of good moral character;

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     (2) Has obtained an advanced graduate degree in school psychology from a regionally

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accredited college or university whose school psychology program is accredited by the American

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Psychological Association and/or the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and

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requires at least sixty (60) graduate credits with one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours of

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supervised school psychology experience.

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     (3) Has two (2) years of two thousand four hundred (2,400) hours of postgraduate

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supervised experience as a school psychologist.

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     (4) Has passed the Educational Testing Service's School Psychology Examination as

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determined by the National School Psychology Certification Board.

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     (5) Has obtained credentials as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist by the

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National Association of School Psychologists.

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     (6) Has satisfied either subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) or (1) and (5) of this section.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - PSYCHOLOGISTS

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     This act would include licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general

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laws governing the regulations of psychologists.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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