Article archive / March 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 7. Source pages: 1, 3, 4.
The 2012 legislative session will convene at noon on Monday, March 12 and pre-filing of many bills was completed yesterday.
In a February 24 email to licensed psychologists, current chair Dr. Tony Young from Louisiana Tech wrote that the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) has not been called for Sunset as yet. He and other sources have explained that if the board is not called, then the current licensing law will stay in effect. LSBEP Executive Director told the Times last month that the board was prepared should they be notified to report regarding Sunset.
Senate Bill 185, by Senator Dan Claitor, was pre-filed on February 28. This legislation would establish the “Board Certified Behavioral Analyst Practice Act.” The proposed law establishes the licensure of behavioral analysts and places the practice under the psychology board.
SB 185 creates a “Licensed Behavior Analyst Committee” that
would review and recommend action on applications for licensure or re-licensure and education, training, professional codes, and other matters. The committee would consist of two certified and licensed behavior analysts and once licensed psychologist. The behavior analyst members of the committee shall be appointed by the Louisiana Association for Behavior Analysis.
Requirements for the license would include a PhD or masters degree and supervisory experience in applied behavior analysis, including a national exam and a jurisprudence exam. The practice of applied behavior analysis will exclude psychological testing, neuropsychology, and diagnosis of mental disorders, among other subjects.
Minutes of the LSBEP indicate that the board has been reviewing national trends and issues regarding
the practice of applied behavior analysis or ABA, and following the issues rose by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.
In the letter to licensed psychologists, the Chair, Dr. Tony Young, asked licensees to support the legislation stating that it was in the best interests of public and a necessary step in protection of the citizens of Louisiana. He said that this arrangement has been successful in others states and indicated that behavior analysis falls under the practice of psychology.
In a letter to the Louisiana Psychological Association, President Dr. Phil Griffin, told members that the LSBEP was left with a choice to issue cease and desist orders or undertake legislation to bring behavior analysts under the board. He said that LPA was “totally neutral” and would not take a position. However, Griffin indicated that LPA might support the measure if the “eventual language” allows for responsible practice and does not “impinge on the practice of psychology.”
Senate Bill 216, supported by the Licensed Professional Counselors board and the Louisiana Counseling Association, seeks to change parts of the language in the Mental Health Counselors Licensing Act.
This legislation would amend portions of a law passed last year authored by Senator Willie Mount. Mount’s bill ultimately provided for Licensed Professional Counselors to expand or clarify their scope of practice in treating those with “serious mental illness.” This newest piece of legislation, Senate Bill 216 is authored by Senator Fred Mills and modifies the consultation and collaboration requirement put in place last year.
The proposed law removes the words “under active care of a practitioner” licensed by the medical board, and softens the meaning with “in accordance with industry best practices, consults and collaborates.” In also introduces the term “or a comparable state licensing authority …”
HB 326, authored by Representative Thomas Willmott, and supported by the Louisiana Psychological Association, proposes to amend the Children’s Code Articles regarding emergency certificate admission. The proposed law “adds authorization for a psychiatric mental health nurse
practitioner or psychologist to execute an emergency certificate” after examination and finding that he or she is a danger to self or others. Other changes in specifying the date in the emergency certificate and providing the name of the health professional to the parish coroner are included.
The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists had published a public notice in February that they would propose legislation to change licensure requirements. Indications were that the board was investigating making adjustments to psychology licensure law, in concert with the American Psychological Association model act, so that new PhDs could be licensed more quickly. However that effort was tabled because the board discovered that it needed to study issues further before taking action, according to the Executive Director.
Psychology board Chair, Dr. Tony Young, has helped develop the bill to create a regulatory committee under the psychology board for applied behavior analysts.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.