SB-993 • 2026

Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees: notices.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ochoa Bogh
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Referred to Com. on B. & P.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on practice settings or safety concerns that qualify for discretion.

Board of Behavioral Sciences: Notices for Licensees

This law allows employing entities to decide whether to include full licensing information in notices given to clients based on safety concerns.

What This Bill Does

Requires marriage and family therapists, educational psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional clinical counselors to provide clients with written notice about their license and how to file complaints.
Authorizes employing entities or agencies of these professionals to exercise discretion in disclosing full licensing information based on safety concerns.

Who It Names or Affects

Marriage and family therapists, educational psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional clinical counselors
Clients of these professionals
Employing entities or agencies that hire these professionals

Terms To Know

Licensee: A person who is licensed to practice a profession by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Notice: A written document given to clients that includes information about the professional's license and how to file complaints.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which practice settings qualify for employer discretion.
It is unclear what specific safety concerns would allow an employer to withhold licensing details.
There are no penalties or enforcement mechanisms described in the summary text.

Bill History

2026-05-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-05-19 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3954.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 20.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
April 13 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 13.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-09 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 8.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 993, as amended, Ochoa Bogh.
Marriage and family therapists.
Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees: notices.
Existing law establishes the Board of Behavioral Sciences and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, the licensing, registration, and regulation of marriage and family
therapists.
therapists, educational psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional clinical counselors.
Existing law requires
a marriage and family therapist
these licensees and registrants
to provide a client with a written notice stating that the board receives and responds to complaints regarding services
provided by
marriage and family therapists
the licensee or registrant
and containing specified information about the
therapist
licensee or registrant
and their license.
This bill would authorize the employing entity or agency of the
therapist,
licensee or registrant,
in specified practice settings, to exercise discretion whether to disclose any or all of the information about the
therapist
licensee or registrant
and their license in the notice based on individual safety concerns if certain requirements are met.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF