By: Watson S.B. No. 2001               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to defining 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.  PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY. (a) In this 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)  represents himself or herself to the public by a   title or description of services that includes the word   "psychological," "psychologist," or "psychology" when providing or   offering to provide psychological services to another in a   professional relationship;                (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)  The practice of psychology is defined as:                (1)  the observation, description, diagnosis,   evaluation, assessment, interpretation, or intervention in and   treatment of human behavior by applying education, training,   methods, and procedures for the purposes of                      (A)  preventing, predicting, treating,   remediating or eliminating:                            (i)  symptomatic, maladaptive, or undesired   behavior;                            (ii)  emotional, interpersonal, learning,   substance use, neuropsychological, cognitive, or behavioral   disorders or disability, including those that accompany medical   problems; or                            (iii)  mental illness.                      (B)  facilitating the enhancement of individual,   group, or organizational effectiveness -including personal   effectiveness, adaptive behavior, interpersonal relationships,   academic, vocational, and life adjustment, health, and individual,   group, or organizational performance, when such facilitation is   offered or provided by a licensee or a person who represents the   person to the public by a title or description of services that   includes the term "psychology," "psychological," or   "psychologist."                      (C)  providing psychological,   neuropsychological, and psychoeducational evaluation, therapy and   remediation as well as counseling, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy,   hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavior analysis and therapy;                      (D)  providing professional psychological   expertise and services in legal proceedings                      (E)  consulting with others, such as 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.                (2)  includes the supervision of any of the activities   or services listed under paragraph (1) above.                (3)  does not include the following situations if at   least one of the requirements under subsection (A) and all of the   requirements under subsection (B) are met:                      (A)  the offering of advice, counsel, or guidance   addressing or affecting the mental, emotional, or behavioral health   of another individual, whether solicited or unsolicited, when:                            (i)  the advice, counsel, or guidance is not   offered in the context of a professional relationship;                            (ii)  the primary focus of the provider's   occupation is other than the delivery of mental, emotional, or   behavioral health care services and the person is offering the   advice, counsel, or guidance ancillary to the person's occupation;   or                            (iii)  the advice, counsel, or guidance is   offered within the context of an organized or structured program or   peer support service that is designed to support or assist   individuals with a self-identified goal of changing or improving   certain aspects of their mental, emotional, or behavioral health;   and                      (B)  the individual offering the advice, counsel,   or guidance does not represent:                            (i)  himself or herself to be a licensee of   the Board, or that he or she is otherwise engaged in the delivery of   psychological services; and                            (ii)  the advice, counsel, or guidance as   being psychological in nature.          [(a)     In this 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)     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;          (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)  The practice of psychology:          (1)     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 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.