By: Watson, et al. S.B. No. 2001     (Coleman)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the conduct that constitutes the practice of   psychology.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 501.003, Occupations Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 501.003.  DEFINITION:  PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY. (a)  In   this chapter:                (1)  "Practice of psychology" means:                      (A)  the observation, description, diagnosis,   evaluation, assessment, interpretation, or treatment of and   intervention in human behavior by applying education, training,   methods, and procedures for the purpose of:                            (i)  preventing, predicting, treating,   remediating, or eliminating:                                  (a)  symptomatic, maladaptive, or   undesired behavior;                                  (b)  emotional, interpersonal,   learning, substance use, neuropsychological, cognitive, or   behavioral disorders or disabilities, including those that   accompany medical problems; or                                  (c)  mental illness;                            (ii)  evaluating, assessing, or   facilitating, by a license holder or a person who represents the   person to the public by a title or description of services that   includes the word "psychological," "psychologist," or   "psychology," the enhancement of individual, group, or   organizational effectiveness, including evaluating, assessing, or   facilitating:                                  (a)  personal effectiveness;                                  (b)  adaptive behavior;                                  (c)  interpersonal relationships;                                  (d)  academic, vocational, and life   adjustment;                                  (e)  health; or                                  (f)  individual, group, or   organizational performance;                            (iii)  providing psychological,   neuropsychological, and psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, and   remediation as well as counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy,   hypnosis, and biofeedback; or                            (iv)  consulting with others, including   other mental health professionals, physicians, school personnel,   or organizations within the scope of the provider's competency and   training with respect to services provided for a specific   individual; or                      (B)  the supervision of an activity or service   described by Paragraph (A).                (2)  "Psychological [section, "psychological]   services" means acts or behaviors that are included within the   purview of the practice of psychology.          (b)  A person is engaged in the practice of psychology   [within the meaning of this chapter] if the person:                (1)  when providing or offering to provide   psychological services to another in a professional relationship,    represents the person to the public by a title or description of   services that includes the word "psychological," "psychologist,"   or "psychology";                (2)  provides or offers to provide psychological   services to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public in a   professional relationship;                (3)  is a psychologist or psychological associate   employed as described by Section 501.004(a)(1) who offers or   provides psychological services, other than lecture services, to   the public for consideration separate from the salary that person   receives for performing the person's regular duties; or                (4)  is employed as a psychologist or psychological   associate by an organization that sells psychological services,   other than lecture services, to the public for consideration.          (c)  A person is not engaged in the [The] practice of   psychology based solely on the person offering, regardless of   whether the person is solicited, advice, counsel, or guidance   addressing or affecting the mental, emotional, or behavioral health   of another, if the person does not represent that the person is   licensed under this chapter or engaged in the delivery of   psychological services and does not represent that the advice,   counsel, or guidance is psychological in nature, and:                (1)  the advice, counsel, or guidance is not offered in   the context of a professional relationship;                (2)  if the person is offering the advice, counsel, or   guidance in connection with the person's occupation, the primary   focus of the occupation is not the delivery of mental, emotional, or   behavioral health care services; or                (3)  the advice, counsel, or guidance is offered   through an organized or structured program or peer support service   that is designed to support or assist a person with a   self-identified goal of changing or improving certain aspects of   the person's mental, emotional, or behavioral health [includes   providing or offering to provide services to an individual or   group, including providing computerized procedures, that include   the application of established principles, methods, and procedures   of describing, explaining, and ameliorating behavior;                [(2)     addresses normal behavior and involves   evaluating, preventing, and remediating psychological, emotional,   mental, interpersonal, learning, and behavioral disorders of   individuals or groups, as well as the psychological disorders that   accompany medical problems, organizational structures, stress, and   health;                [(3)  includes:                      [(A)     using projective techniques,   neuropsychological testing, counseling, career counseling,   psychotherapy, hypnosis for health care purposes, hypnotherapy,   and biofeedback; and                      [(B)     evaluating and treating mental or emotional   disorders and disabilities by psychological techniques and   procedures; and                [(4)  is based on:                      [(A)     a systematic body of knowledge and   principles acquired in an organized program of graduate study; and                      [(B)     the standards of ethics established by the   profession].          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.