PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATE LICENSE                                                      S.B. 273 (S-2):

                                                                                     SUMMARY OF BILL REPORTED

                                                                                                     FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 273 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Senator Judy K. Emmons

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), in consultation with the Michigan Board of Psychology, to promulgate rules to establish and administer a licensure program for practice as a psychological associate.

-- Establish educational and experience requirements for licensure as a psychological associate.

-- Prohibit a licensed psychological associate from engaging in certain activities unless supervised by a psychologist.

-- Discontinue provisions for granting a limited license to practice psychology, but allow a person with a limited license to obtain a psychological associate license or renew the limited license.

-- Authorize LARA, in consultation with the Board, to establish continuing education requirements for practice as a psychological associate.

-- Extend restrictions on a psychologist's disclosure of confidential information to anyone licensed under Part 182 (Psychology) of the code.

-- Restrict the use of certain titles.

-- Extend the current fees for a licensee or applicant for licensure to engage in the practice of psychology, to a licensee or applicant for licensure as a psychological associate.

-- Specify that the bill would not require new or additional third-party reimbursement or mandated worker's compensation benefits for services rendered by a psychological associate.

The bill would define "practice as a psychological associate" as rendering services to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public that involve the application of principles, methods, and procedures of understanding, predicting, and influencing behavior for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, amelioration, or treatment of mental or emotional disorders, disabilities, or behavioral adjustment problems by means of psychotherapy, counseling, behavior modification, hypnosis, biofeedback techniques, or other verbal or behavioral means. 

MCL 333.18201 et al.                                                Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  1-15-14                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.