Article archive / December 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 12. Source pages: 3.
LSBEP Discusses Concerns at Nov Meeting
The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists met on November 19 for their annual Long Range Planning Meeting, held this year at the Louisiana Municipal Association Building on N. 10th Street in Baton Rouge.
Attending the meeting were board members Dr. Koren Boggs, Dr. Phillip Griffin, Dr. Marc Zimmermann, Dr. Darla Burnett, Dr. Jesse Lambert, and Executive Director Ms. Jaime Monic.
Members of the public attending were Dr. Lacy Seymour, Dr. Kim VanGeffen, Dr. Greg Gormanous, and Times publisher Dr. Julie Nelson.
Discussion included general matters such as finances, examinations, elections, and legal matters
Dr. Burnett led a lengthy review of the current rules for “Continuing Professional Development,” pointing out corrections and clarifications that will need to be made in these rules in the next few months.
Self-nominations for the upcoming election were opened and read, and two qualified, Dr. Leah Crouch and Dr. Amy Henke.
Also, applicants for the Complaints Coordinator position were noted: Drs. Erica Meyers, Chris Gardner, and Jill Hayes.
The board also discussed the board’s need for a legislative affairs attorney. Led by Chair Dr. Zimmermann, the members said they needed a legislative consultant to monitor bills. Nelson asked if the board had any plans for submitting legislation for 2016 and the Chair indicated that while there may be a need, there was no specific plan at this time.
Dr. Zimmermann led a discussion about possible changes that would differentiate the health care service psychologists from the non-health care service psychologists. The idea of a task team to look into this was suggested.
The disciplinary process, including the time limit issue that appears to have been being incorrectly applied by the investigations group at the board, was discussed.
Dr. Van Geffen, representative for professional affairs for the Louisiana Psychological Assn, told the Times, “I think that they will probably set up a Task Force to address this issue.”
The board discussed extending the present time frame from one-year to five years. Van Geffen noted that she voiced opposition to a five-year period, which she said seemed excessive. Members also discussed how the time frame is measured, and when the time is viewed to begin.
“Because there appears to be a lot of confusion about the process of what the Board does when it receives a complaint, LSBEP and LPA are looking at holding a workshop at the spring convention on the Complaints process,” VanGeffen said.
Later in the afternoon, the representatives from Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), President Dr. Lacy Seymour and Director, Dr. VanGeffen, asked if the Board had made a decision regarding LPA's request to have a joint task force to discuss the LSBEP election procedures.
The board members said that no decision had been made and appeared inclined to leave it at that, according to VanGeffen. However, Seymour asked when they would be making the decision and this opened up further discussion. Finally, Dr. Griffin, who is the LSBEP liaison to Professional Organizations agreed to meet with LPA representatives to discuss the issue of elections.
Dr. Jesse Lambert, one of the newest board members on the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP), listens along with Ms. Jaime Monic, Executive Director, at the recent Long Range Planning Meeting held in Baton Rouge.
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