Article archive / December 2023
Originally published: . Volume 14, No. 12. Source pages: 5.
From the Minutes Selected Items from April Meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP)
From April Meeting Published in October
i. Accept/Discuss Ethics Attorney Letter: ASPPB CE’s for Board Members – Dr. Gormanous reported that the Board of Ethics Opinion regarding Board Members not being prohibited from receiving Continuing Education (CE) credit from ASPPB, was pulled from the Board of Ethics website. The Board of Ethics opined that it was not prohibited for Board Members to receive CE credit for attending ASPPB.
Continuing Professional Development:
Applications for Licensee CPD Preapproval and Sponsor Activity Approval – The Board reviewed the application forms for the preapproval of CPD activities of licensees and preapproval of activities and offerings by other individuals. Dr. Harness moved in favor of adopting the “Sponsor Application for Approval of Continuing Professional Development” form and the “Licensee Application for Preapproval of Unsponsored Continuing Professional Development Offerings or Activities”. Following an opportunity for discussion, the motion was put to a vote. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote of the members present as follows: In favor: (5) Gormanous, Moore, Harness, Sam and Holcomb; Against: (0); Abstained: (0); Absent: (1) McNeely. Approve training video/credit for licensees – The Board discussed the 2023 Regulatory Update and Training, Part I presented by Ms. Monic. Dr. Harness stated that she had watched the video and thought it was good. Dr. Harness moved in favor of approving he CPD training video and offer a half hour of CPD Credit for completing the training. Following an opportunity for discussion, the motion was put to a vote. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote of the members present as follows: In favor: (5) Gormanous, Moore, Harness, Sam and Holcomb; Against: (0); Abstained: (0); Absent: (1) McNeely. 6. 2023-24 Contract Review a. COMPLAINTS COORDINATOR 2 – Mark P. Vigen, Ph.D. Ms. Monic reported the term for Dr. Vigen’s contract would be ending on June 30, 2023. Following discussion, Dr. Gormanous moved to adopt the following resolution: […] IT THEREFORE RESOLVES by motion of Dr. Gormanous that the Board contract with Dr. Vigen to provide services as Complaints Coordinator II, for a fiscal-year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024 for an amount not to exceed a maximum of $5,000. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the hourly rates of pay for the position of Complaints Coordinator shall be: $100 per hour, […] a. INVESTIGATOR – Statewide Surveillance & Investigation, LLC (Tony McCoy/Henry Richardson) – Ms. Monic reported the term for the investigation contract with Statewide Surveillance & Investigation, LLC would be ending on June 30, 2023. Following an opportunity for discussion, Dr. Gormanous moved to adopt the following resolution: […] IT THEREFORE RESOLVES by motion of Dr. Gormanous that the Board contract with Statewide Surveillance & Investigations for an amount not to exceed $12,000, to provide investigatory services beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024. The contract to commence at the following rates of pay: $60 per hour for investigative work; […] v. Vinformatics* Dr. Holcomb presented 3 proposals for information technology, and Dr. Sam presented an option for CE Broker. The Board balanced their options based on their financial position. Dr. Holcomb moved to adopt the following resolution: IT THEREFORE RESOLVES by motion of Dr. Holcomb, that the LSBEP accept Covalent Logic’s Proposal for a custom licensing system, including complaints management and online applications, and enter a multi-year contract with Covalent Logic for the design and development of the system in an amount not to exceed $50,000 for Standard Content Management System Cost and Licensing Management System Cost; $50,000 for Phase II of the proposal, to provide information technology services including, but not limited to for the addition of the supervision component [registration of assistants] plus additional optional features to include $7,000 for Communications Manager, $6,500 for Table Manager, $3,000 for content migration and authorize payment of a monthly fee upon implementation of $750/month for Hosting and Technical Support. The contract to begin May 15, 2023 and end June 30, 2029. LDH – OCDD: Request for exceptions to Registration of Assistants – The Board considered a request from the La Department of Health, Office of Developmental Disabilities related to a waiver of the required fee as another state agency under the LDH budget; and a streamlined process of registration of all assistants and notification of any employment changes including if an assistant leaves the agency and/or if supervision changes including a recommendation that the notifications would come from the OCDD Clinical Director for any OCDD Resource Center clinicians and from the Pinecrest Supports and Services Center or Central Louisiana Supports and Services Center administrator for any clinicians under the purview of these facilities. They discussed the requirement and responsibility of the Licensed Psychologist related to utilization of assistants and the requirement that the assistant operate under the direct supervision of a Licensed Psychologist. Additionally, the board discussed the fact that it does not receive any state general funds to support the staff and operations required to regulate. Following discussion, Dr. Holcomb moved to deny the request to waive fees associated with registration and renewal of assistants and affirm the requirement that all licensed psychologists comply with the notification requirements related to the discontinuation of an assistant. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote of the members present as follows: In favor: (5) Gormanous, Moore, Harness, Sam and Holcomb; Against: (0); Abstained: (0); Absent: (1) McNeely.
La Department of Education – Recertification of School Psychologists – Dr. Gormanous reported on the meeting with LDOE representatives, Ms. Elizabeth Duncan, Rachel Normand and Christy Bellue, and LSBEP representatives, Dr. George Hebert, Jaime Monic and including himself. Dr. Gormanous explained that LDOE was seeking to provide a fast track for recertification of individuals who were licensed as either Licensed Psychologists or Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP’s). Dr. Gormanous reported that he saw this as a very positive move that would benefit LDOE, LSBEP and the public. Dr. Gormanous reported that following the meeting, the LSSP Committee met and was not inclined to consider grandparenting, but did devise a table to demonstrate that Licensed Psychologists and LSSP’s met or exceeded certification standards; and further suggested that because the language in Bulletin 746 refers back to NASP standards, then Level A and Level B certified school psychologists should meet the eligibility requirements for the LSSP License if their training program and internship are consistent with the NASP Standards. Current regulations will allow the Board to consider equivalency for training and internships on an individual basis. Ms. Monic recommended that the Board adopt the guidance developed by the LSSP Committee. Following a very positive discussion and commendations for the Committee’s work, Dr. Moore moved to approve and adopt the guidance comparing equivalencies identified by the LSBEP with respect to education, training and continuing education for LSBEP and LDOE’s respective licenses/certifications/renewals/ recertifications. Further that the guidance be shared with LDOE and opinion that because the language in Bulletin 746 refers back to NASP standards, then Level A and Level B certified school psychologists should meet the eligibility requirements for the LSSP License if their training program and internship are consistent with the NASP Standards. Current regulations will allow the Board to consider equivalency for training and internships on an individual basis. Following an opportunity for discussion, the motion was put to a vote. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote of the members present as follows: In favor: (5) Gormanous, Moore, Harness, Sam and Holcomb; Against: (0); Abstained: (0); Absent: (1) McNeely. This matter was tabled due to time. Masters Level Licensure (TSam)
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