AN ACT relating to psychologists.

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AN ACT relating to psychologists. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 319.020 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) The board shall consist of eleven (11) [nine (9)] members appointed by the 4
Governor. Seven (7) [Six (6)] members shall be licensed psychologists. Three 5
(3)[Two (2)] members shall be credentialed by the board as certified psychologists, 6
licensed psychological practitioners, or licensed psychological associates. One (1) 7
member shall be a citizen at large who is not associated with or financially 8
interested in the practice or business regulated. 9
(2) Licensed psychologist members shall be appointed by the Governor from a group 10
consisting of the three (3) nominees receiving the most votes for each position to be 11
filled, the nominees to be selected by all licensed psychologists credentialed under 12
this chapter from a list of eligible candidates prepared by the Kentucky 13
Psychological Association. Candidates shall be solicited from all licensed 14
psychologists credentialed according to the provisions of this chapter and each 15
nominee shall be a licensed psychologist credentialed according to the provisions of 16
this chapter. Each licensed psychologist member shall be a resident of this state and 17
shall have engaged in the practice or teaching of psychology as a licensed 18
psychologist for at least three (3) years in this state. 19
(3) Certified psychologist, licensed psychological practitioner, or licensed 20
psychological associate members shall be appointed by the Governor from a group 21
consisting of the three (3) nominees receiving the most votes for each position to be 22
filled, the n ominees to be selected by all certified psychologists, licensed 23
psychological practitioners, and licensed psychological associates credentialed 24
under this chapter from a list of eligible candidates prepared by the Kentucky 25
Psychological Association. Candid ates shall be solicited from all certified 26
psychologists, licensed psychological practitioners, and licensed psychological 27
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associates credentialed according to the provisions of this chapter. Each nominee 1
shall be a resident of this state, licensed accordi ng to the provisions of this chapter, 2
and shall have engaged in the practice or teaching of psychology as a certified 3
psychologist, licensed psychological practitioner, or licensed psychological 4
associate for at least three (3) years in this state. 5
(4) The term of each board member shall be four (4) years and until a successor is 6
appointed and qualified. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive full 7
terms. The Governor shall fill any vacancy occurring in the board in the manner 8
prescribed in subsection (2) of this section. Upon recommendation by a majority of 9
the board members and after notice and a hearing, the Governor shall remove any 10
member for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. 11
(5) Six (6) [Five (5)] members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Each member 12
shall receive one hundred dollars ($100) per day for attending each meeting and 13
shall receive his or her necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the 14
duties required by this chapter. Annually the board shall elect one (1) of its licensed 15
members as chairperson for a term of one (1) year. No person shall serve more than 16
two (2) consecutive full terms as chairperson. The board shall meet at least twice 17
annually and at other times as it determi nes necessary. Special meetings may be 18
called by the chairperson and shall be called upon the written request of two (2) 19
members. 20
Section 2. KRS 319.030 is amended to read as follows: 21
(1) On June 30 of each year, the board shall submit to the Governor and the Legislative 22
Research Commission and post on the board's website a written report that 23
includes:[including ] 24
(a) The names of all persons to whom licenses have been granted as provided in 25
this chapter; 26
(b) Both the av erage and modal time it takes the board to issue or deny a 27
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license after receipt of a complete initial application; 1
(c) Both the average and modal time between initiation of a disciplinary 2
complaint and the resolution of the complaint; and 3
(d) Any cases heard and decisions rendered. 4
(2) The board may locate its principal office, meet, or conduct any of its business at 5
any place in this state. 6
(3) The board shall keep a record of its proceedings and a register of licensed and 7
certified psychologists, licens ed psychological practitioners, and licensed 8
psychological associates. The books and records of the board shall be prima facie 9
evidence of the matters therein contained. 10
Section 3. KRS 319.050 is amended to read as follows: 11
(1) Before granting a license to practice psychology and to use the title "licensed 12
psychologist," the board shall require the applicant to pass examinations[an 13
examination] in psychology as outlined by the board and to fulfill all requirements 14
for supervised experience. 15
(2) The applicant shall: 16
(a) Pay a fee not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300); 17
(b) Have received a doctoral degree in psychology that is acceptable to the board 18
from a regionally accredited educational institution; provided, however , the 19
board may grant a license to an individual otherwise qualified under this 20
chapter who has received a doctoral degree in psychology that is acceptable to 21
the board from an educational institution outside the United States, if the 22
educational instituti on would otherwise be accredited by a regional 23
accrediting body if located in the United States; 24
(c) Have passed the national EPPP examination at the doctoral level;[ and] 25
(d) Have passed an examination in Kentucky mental health law; 26
(e) Have passed an examination in the practice of psychology as determined by 27
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the board; and 1
(f) Have had at least two (2) years of supervised professional experience 2
satisfactory to the board, one (1) year of which shall be an internship. 3
(3) (a) Upon acceptance of the applica tion to sit for the examination in 4
psychology:[,] 5
1. The board examination shall be scheduled to occur within thirty (30) 6
to sixty (60) days, unless the applicant is unable to complete the 7
examination process due to an accident, illness, or injury, the de lay 8
for which is approved by the board chair or the chair's designee. Any 9
unapproved delay by the applicant to complete the examination 10
process may result in the suspension of the applicant's temporary 11
license until the examination process is completed; and 12
2. The applicant may practice psychology under the supervision of a 13
licensed psychologist under conditions of supervision and temporary 14
licensure established by the board. 15
(b) The board shall establish a grace period not to exceed one hundred eighty 16
(180) days to allow for the employment and supervision of the applicant by an 17
agency from the time the applicant's degree requirements are completed to the 18
submission of the complete application. During this period of supervision, the 19
applicant for licensure may not supervise certified psychologists, licensed 20
psychological associates, other applicants for licensure, or temporarily 21
licensed persons, nor shall the applicant [he] engage i n an independent 22
practice, except under the employment of his or her supervising psychologist. 23
Upon certification to the board of completion of the two (2) years of 24
supervision satisfactory to the board, the applicant shall be examined on 25
psychological practice, ethical principles, and the law. 26
(4) The board shall grade and keep the examinations and results on file for one (1) year. 27
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Upon written request to the board, an applicant may arrange to discuss his or her 1
performance on the examination. 2
(5) Upon suc cessful completion of the examination process, the board shall issue a 3
license to practice psychology and the applicant may use the title "licensed 4
psychologist." 5
(6) Licensed psychologists may function independently without supervision. Licensed 6
psychologists who have the designation "health service provider" may retain that 7
designation and may employ and supervise certified psychologists and licensed 8
psychological associates. Licensed psychologists who have the designation "health 9
service provider" may su pervise no more than a total of six (6) certified 10
psychologists, licensed psychological associates, or applicants for licensure at one 11
(1) time. 12
(7) The designation "health service provider" shall be made on the license of those 13
licensed psychologists who have completed one (1) additional year of supervised 14
experience satisfactory to the board in health care service delivery. This year of 15
supervised experience shall be in addition to the supervised experience requirement 16
for licensure as a licensed psychologist. Health service providers may provide 17
supervision of direct health care services by applicants for licensure, certified 18
psychologists, and licensed psychological associates. Health service providers may 19
supervise no more than a total of six (6) certified psychologists, licensed 20
psychological associates, or applicants for licensure at one (1) time. 21