Article archive / September 1, 2011
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 1. Source pages: 1, 8.
The Psychology Board is preparing to go through the “Sunset Review” process, which requires an evaluation of their powers, duties, performance, and problems, along with other data, to be presented to legislative committees for the 2012 session. The Sunset law automatically terminates the board on July 1, 2012. Then, if the legislature views the board as needed and worthwhile, the board is “re-created.”
The Sunset law (Louisiana Revised Statutes or RS 49: 190, Part XII – Termination and Re-Creation of Statutory Entities) automatically terminates all boards on a regular basis, which then must then be “re-created” or if deemed to be obsolete, phased-out.
The psychology board falls under the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). LSBEP (Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists) is scheduled to be evaluated along with other DHH boards in 2012.
The purpose of the sunset review is to eliminate inactive entities, and “The elimination or consolidation of entities, programs, or activities which duplicate other governmental entities, programs, or activities.”
According to sources the review for the psychology board should be fairly routine, with data firmly supporting the existence of the board. However, some in the community are wary due to the issues regarding the dual regulation of psychology that occurred with Act 251.
At their July meeting, the psychology board discussed Sunset, including asking for assistance from the Board’s attorneys, including the newer Opinions, and talking with LPA president, Dr. Phillip Griffin.
The Times asked Dr. Griffin about Sunset and he said that Sunset will be discussed at the upcoming Executive Council meeting on September 10. “Tony Young and probably one or more Board members are meeting with us at our September EC meeting,” Dr. Griffin noted. “We are fortunate to have Darlyne Nemeth with us; she was a Board member during the last sunset hearing … I will know a great deal more after that meeting.”
Past LSBEP Chairs Drs. Rovaris and Comaty.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.