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AB-89 Psychologists: suicide prevention training.(2017-2018)



Current Version: 09/01/17 - Chaptered

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AB89:v97#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 89
CHAPTER 182

An act to add Section 2915.4 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to psychologists.

[ Approved by Governor  September 01, 2017. Filed with Secretary of State  September 01, 2017. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 89, Levine. Psychologists: suicide prevention training.
Existing law, the Psychology Licensing Law, provides for the licensing and regulation of psychologists and requires a person applying for licensure as a psychologist to have completed specified coursework or training. Existing law also requires licensed psychologists to participate in continuing professional development as a prerequisite for renewing their licenses. Existing law requires a person applying for relicensure or for reinstatement to an active license status to certify under penalty of perjury that he or she has fulfilled the continuing professional development requirements. Existing law defines “continuing professional development” as certain continuing education learning activities and provides requirements for continuing education courses approved to meet the continuing professional development requirements.
This bill, effective January 1, 2020, would require an applicant for licensure as a psychologist to complete a minimum of 6 hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention. The bill would also require, effective January 1, 2020, as a one-time requirement, a licensed psychologist to have completed this suicide risk assessment and intervention training requirement prior to the time of his or her first renewal. The bill would also require, effective January 1, 2020, a person applying for reactivation or for reinstatement to have completed this suicide risk assessment and intervention training requirement. The bill would require that proof of compliance with this provision be certified under penalty of perjury that he or she is in compliance with this provision and be retained for submission to the board upon request. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 2915.4 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2915.4.
 (a) Effective January 1, 2020, an applicant for licensure as a psychologist shall show, as part of the application, that he or she has completed a minimum of six hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention. This requirement shall be met in one of the following ways:
(1) Obtained as part of his or her qualifying graduate degree program. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a written certification from the registrar or training director of the educational institution or program from which the applicant graduated stating that the coursework required by this section is included within the institution’s curriculum required for graduation at the time the applicant graduated, or within the coursework that was completed by the applicant.
(2) Obtained as part of his or her applied experience. Applied experience can be met in any of the following settings: practicum, internship, or formal postdoctoral placement that meets the requirement of Section 2911, or other qualifying supervised professional experience. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a written certification from the director of training for the program or primary supervisor where the qualifying experience has occurred stating that the training required by this section is included within the applied experience.
(3) By taking a continuing education course that meets the requirements of subdivision (e) or (f) of Section 2915 and that qualifies as a continuing education learning activity category specified in paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 2915. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a certification of completion.
(b) Effective January 1, 2020, as a one-time requirement, a licensee prior to the time of his or her first renewal after the operative date of this section, or an applicant for reactivation or reinstatement to an active license status, shall have completed a minimum of six hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention, as specified in subdivision (a). Proof of compliance with this section shall be certified under penalty of perjury that he or she is in compliance with this section and shall be retained for submission to the board upon request.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.