GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1156

Short Title:  Amend Psychology Practice Act.	(Public)

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Crawford; Berry (Primary Sponsors) and Cansler.

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Health.

─────────────────────────────────────── 

April 15, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE ACT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 90-270.5(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	All individuals who have yet to apply and who are practicing or offering to practice psychology in North Carolina, and all applicants who are practicing or offering to practice psychology in North Carolina, shall at all times comply with supervision requirements established by the Board.  The Board shall specify in its rules the format, setting, content, time frame, amounts of supervision, qualifications of supervisors, disclosure of supervisory relationships, the organization of the supervised experience, and the nature of the responsibility assumed by the supervisor.  Individuals shall be supervised for all activities comprising the practice of psychology until they have met the following conditions:
(1)	For licensed psychologist applicants, until they have passed the examination to which they have been admitted by the Board, have been notified of the results, have completed supervision requirements specified in subsection (d) of this section, and have been informed by the Board of permanent licensure as a licensed psychologist; or
(2)	For licensed psychological associate applicants, until they have passed the examination to which they have been admitted by the Board, have been notified of the results, and have been informed by the Board of permanent licensure as a licensed psychological associate, after which time supervision is required only for those activities specified in subsection (e) of this section when performed by licensed psychological associates who are not exempt from supervision as provided in G.S. 90-270.5(e1)."
Section 2.  G.S. 90-270.5(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e)	A licensed psychological associate, who is not exempt from supervision as provided in G.S. 90-270.5(e1), shall be supervised by a qualified licensed psychologist, or other qualified professionals, in accordance with Board rules specifying the format, setting, content, time frame, amounts of supervision, qualifications of supervisors, disclosure of supervisory relationships, the organization of the supervised experience, and the nature of the responsibility assumed by the supervisor.  A licensed psychological associate, who is not exempt from supervision as provided in G.S. 90-270.5(e1) and who provides health services shall be supervised, for those activities requiring supervision, by a qualified licensed psychologist or licensed psychological associate holding health services provider certification or by other qualified professionals under the overall direction of a qualified licensed psychologist or licensed psychological associate holding health services provider certification, in accordance with Board rules.  Except as provided below, supervision, including the supervision of health services, is required only when a licensed psychological associate, who is not otherwise exempt from supervision, engages in:  assessment of personality functioning; neuropsychological evaluation; psychotherapy, counseling, and other interventions with clinical populations for the purpose of preventing or eliminating symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired behavior; and, the use of intrusive, punitive, or experimental procedures, techniques, or measures.  The Board shall adopt rules implementing and defining this provision, and as the practice of psychology evolves, may identify additional activities requiring supervision in order to maintain acceptable standards of practice."
Section 3. Article 18A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"( e1)	The Board may grant an exemption from supervision to any licensed psychological associate who fulfills the following requirements:
(1)	Holds permanent licensure and a masters, specialist, or doctoral degree.
(2)	Has been approved for the highest level of reduced supervision after having completed the requisite years and hours of post-licensure supervised practice associated with that level.
(3)	Meets minimum graduate training standards as defined by the Board.
(4)	Passes the national psychology examination at a level prescribed by the Board.
(5)	Holds health provider certification as a psychological associate (HSP-PA).
(6)	Submits a letter of recommendation from the current Board-approved supervisor endorsing the applicant's exemption from supervision.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any person who was licensed as a licensed psychological associate prior to January 1, 1999, holds HSP-PA certification, and is approved for the highest level of reduced supervision may, with the written recommendation of his or her Board-approved supervisor, apply for and be granted an exemption from supervision."
Section 4.  G.S. 90-270.20(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Health services, as defined in G.S. 90-270.2(4) and G.S. 90-270.2(8), may be provided by qualified licensed psychological associates, qualified licensed psychologists holding provisional, temporary, or permanent licenses, or qualified applicants. Qualified licensed psychological associates, who are not otherwise exempt from supervision, qualified licensed psychologists holding provisional or temporary licenses, or qualified applicants may provide health services only under supervision as specified in the duly adopted rules of the Board."
Section 5. This act is effective when it becomes law.