STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 692 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 4, 2017 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law and the social services law, in relation to the practice of school psychology The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 166-A 2 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 166-A 4 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 5 Section 8720. Introduction. 6 8721. Practice of school psychology and use of the title "school 7 psychologist". 8 8722. Definition of the practice of school psychology. 9 8723. Requirements for a professional license. 10 8724. Boundaries of professional competency. 11 8725. Limited permits. 12 8726. Exemptions. 13 8727. Special provisions. 14 § 8720. Introduction. This article applies to the profession and prac- 15 tice of school psychology and to the use of the title "licensed school 16 psychologist". The general provisions for all professions contained in 17 article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this article. 18 § 8721. Practice of school psychology and use of the title "school 19 psychologist". Only a person licensed or exempt under this article 20 shall practice school psychology or use the title "licensed school 21 psychologist". 22 § 8722. Definition of the practice of school psychology. The practice 23 of school psychology is: 24 1. the assessment, including psycho-educational, developmental and 25 vocational assessment, evaluation and interpretation of intelligence, EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD04588-01-7

S. 692 2 1 cognitive processes, aptitudes, interests, academic achievement, 2 adjustment, personality factors and motivations, or any other attri- 3 butes, to individual students or groups of students that relate to 4 learning, education or adjustment needs; 5 2. the development and implementation of educationally-related 6 psychotherapeutic and behavioral approaches to increase school adjust- 7 ment and academic success, counseling and interpretive services to 8 reduce education-related problems including, but not limited to, verbal 9 interaction, interviewing, behavior techniques, developmental and voca- 10 tional intervention, environmental management and group processes; 11 3. consultation with representatives of schools, agencies and organ- 12 izations, families or individuals, including psycho-educational, devel- 13 opmental and vocational assistance or direct educational services, 14 related to learning problems and adjustments to those problems to the 15 benefit of an individual student or group of students; and 16 4. the development of programming, including designing, implementing 17 or evaluating educationally and psychologically sound learning environ- 18 ments and the facilitation of psycho-educational development of individ- 19 uals, families or groups. 20 § 8723. Requirements for a professional license. To qualify for a 21 license as a licensed school psychologist, an applicant shall fulfill 22 the following requirements: 23 1. Application: File an application with the department; 24 2. Education: Complete a minimum of sixty graduate credits and fulfill 25 the requirements of a master's or doctoral degree in school psychology 26 from a program registered by the department, or determined by the 27 department to be the substantial equivalent in accordance with the 28 commissioner's regulations. The graduate coursework shall include, but 29 not be limited to, the following areas: 30 (i) biological, social and cultural bases of development; 31 (ii) psychopathology and exceptionality in learning and behavior; 32 (iii) assessment and appraisal of learners in home and school 33 contexts; 34 (iv) consultation and collaboration in family, school and community 35 systems; 36 (v) effective instruction and development of cognitive and academic 37 skills; 38 (vi) prevention and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders 39 and deficits; 40 (vii) school organization, curriculum, policy and law; 41 (viii) research and program evaluation; 42 (ix) profession and ethical practice of psychology in schools; and 43 (x) completion of a twelve hundred hour supervised internship in 44 school psychology, with no less than six hundred hours completed within 45 a school setting. 46 3. Experience: Complete a minimum of two thousand four hundred hours 47 of post-master's supervised experience relevant to the practice of 48 school psychology satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the 49 commissioner's regulations, such supervised experience which may include 50 one thousand two hundred hours completed as part of a program in school 51 psychology; 52 4. Examination: Pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in 53 accordance with the commissioner's regulations; 54 5. Age: Be at least twenty-one years of age; 55 6. Character: Be of good moral character as determined by the depart- 56 ment; and

S. 692 3 1 7. Fees: Pay a fee of two hundred forty dollars to the department for 2 admission to a department conducted examination and for an initial 3 license; a fee of eighty-five dollars for each reexamination; a fee of 4 one hundred seventy-five dollars for an initial license for persons not 5 requiring admission to a department conducted examination and a fee of 6 one hundred seventy dollars for each triennial registration period. 7 § 8724. Boundaries of professional competency. 1. It shall be deemed 8 practicing outside the boundaries of his or her professional competence 9 for a person licensed pursuant to this article, in the case of treatment 10 of any serious mental illness, to provide any mental health services 11 for such illness on a continuous and sustained basis without a medical 12 evaluation of the illness by, and consultation with, a physician regard- 13 ing such illness. Such medical evaluation and consultation shall be to 14 determine and advise whether any medical care is indicated for such 15 illness. For purposes of this section, "serious mental illness" means 16 schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major 17 depressive disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 18 Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent, limit or impair 19 consultation with any other health or mental health professional. Noth- 20 ing herein contained shall limit, modify, restrict or otherwise affect 21 the definition of the practice of school psychology as provided in 22 section eighty-seven hundred twenty-two of this article. 23 2. Any individual whose license or authority to practice derives from 24 the provisions of this article shall be prohibited from: 25 (a) prescribing or administering drugs as defined in this chapter as a 26 treatment, therapy, or professional service in the practice of his or 27 her profession; or 28 (b) using invasive procedures as a treatment, therapy, or professional 29 service in the practice of his or her profession. For purposes of this 30 subdivision, "invasive procedure" means any procedure in which human 31 tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or other 32 means. Invasive procedure includes surgery, lasers, ionizing radiation, 33 therapeutic ultrasound, or electroconvulsive therapy; or 34 (c) engaging in dual setting practice, or otherwise offering or 35 providing private practice services to a student of a school or special 36 education program where the practitioner is currently employed or under 37 contract with such school or program. 38 3. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to authorize, grant or 39 extend hospital privileges to individuals licensed under this article. 40 § 8725. Limited permits. 1. The department may issue a limited permit 41 to an applicant whose qualifications have been approved for admission to 42 the examination in accordance with regulations promulgated therefor. 43 2. Limited permits shall be for one year and be renewed, at the 44 discretion of the department, for one additional year. 45 3. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be 46 seventy dollars. 47 § 8726. Exemptions. Nothing contained in this article shall be 48 construed to: 49 1. apply to the practice, conduct, activities, services or use of any 50 title by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medi- 51 cine within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one of this 52 title or by any person registered to perform services as a physician 53 assistant within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one-B 54 of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to prac- 55 tice psychology within this state pursuant to article one hundred 56 fifty-three of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise author-

S. 692 4 1 ized to practice as a licensed clinical social worker within this state 2 pursuant to article one hundred fifty-four of this title, or by any 3 person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice nursing as a regis- 4 tered professional nurse within this state pursuant to article one 5 hundred thirty-nine of this title, or by any person licensed or other- 6 wise authorized to practice mental health counseling, marriage and fami- 7 ly therapy, creative arts therapy, or psychoanalysis within the state, 8 or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice applied 9 behavior analysis within the state pursuant to article one hundred 10 sixty-six-a of this title; provided, however, that no physician, physi- 11 cian's assistant, registered professional nurse, psychologist, licensed 12 clinical social worker, licensed mental health counselor, licensed 13 marriage and family therapist, licensed creative arts therapist, 14 licensed psychoanalyst or applied behavior analyst may use the title 15 unless licensed under this article; 16 2. prohibit or limit any individual who is credentialed under any law, 17 including attorneys, rape crisis counselors, certified alcoholism coun- 18 selors and certified substance abuse counselors from providing mental 19 health services within their respective established authorities; 20 3. prohibit or limit the practice of a profession licensed pursuant 21 to this article by a student, intern or resident in, and as a part of, a 22 supervised educational program in an institution approved by the depart- 23 ment; 24 4. prohibit or limit the provision of pastoral counseling services by 25 any member of the clergy or Christian Science practitioner, within the 26 context of his or her ministerial charge or obligation; 27 5. prohibit or limit individuals, churches, schools, teachers, organ- 28 izations, or not-for-profit businesses, from providing instruction, 29 advice, support, encouragement, or information to individuals, families, 30 and relational groups; 31 6. prohibit or limit an occupational therapist from performing work 32 consistent with article one hundred fifty-six of this title; or 33 7. affect or prevent the activities or services on the part of a 34 person in the employ of a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, 35 other political subdivision, or a chartered elementary or secondary 36 school or degree-granting educational institution insofar as such activ- 37 ities and services are a part of the duties of such person's salaried 38 position. 39 § 8727. Special provisions. 1. Any nonexempt person practicing the 40 profession of school psychology shall apply for a license of such 41 profession within one year of the effective date of this section. 42 (a) If such person does not meet the requirements for a license estab- 43 lished within this article, such person may meet alternative criteria 44 determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent of such 45 criteria. 46 (b) If such person meets the requirements for a license established 47 within this article, except for examination, and has been certified or 48 registered by a national certifying or registering body having certif- 49 ication or registration standards acceptable to the commissioner, the 50 department shall license without examination. 51 2. Notwithstanding the requirements of section eighty-seven hundred 52 twenty-three of this article, and for a period of time not to exceed two 53 years from the effective date of this article, an individual may be 54 licensed as a school psychologist provided such person has either: 55 (a) met the educational requirements as defined in section eighty-sev- 56 en hundred twenty-three of this article and performed the duties of a

S. 692 5 1 school psychologist for two of the past five years prior to the effec- 2 tive date of this article; or 3 (b) performed the duties of a school psychologist for at least five 4 years prior to the effective date of this article. 5 3. Any person licensed pursuant to this article may use accepted codes 6 and classifications of signs, symptoms, dysfunctions and disorders, as 7 approved in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department, 8 in the practice of such licensed profession. 9 4. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to alter, modify or affect 10 the provisions of section three thousand twelve or twenty-five hundred 11 ten of this chapter or otherwise affect the certification of a school 12 psychologist. 13 § 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 6507 of the education 14 law, as amended by chapter 554 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read 15 as follows: 16 a. Establish standards for preprofessional and professional education, 17 experience and licensing examinations as required to implement the arti- 18 cle for each profession. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 19 commissioner shall establish standards requiring that all persons apply- 20 ing, on or after January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one, initially, 21 or for the renewal of, a license, registration or limited permit to be a 22 physician, chiropractor, dentist, registered nurse, podiatrist, optome- 23 trist, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed school psychologist, 24 licensed master social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed 25 creative arts therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, 26 licensed mental health counselor, licensed psychoanalyst, dental hygien- 27 ist, licensed behavior analyst, or certified behavior analyst assistant 28 shall, in addition to all the other licensure, certification or permit 29 requirements, have completed two hours of coursework or training regard- 30 ing the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. 31 The coursework or training shall be obtained from an institution or 32 provider which has been approved by the department to provide such 33 coursework or training. The coursework or training shall include infor- 34 mation regarding the physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse 35 and maltreatment and the statutory reporting requirements set out in 36 sections four hundred thirteen through four hundred twenty of the social 37 services law, including but not limited to, when and how a report must 38 be made, what other actions the reporter is mandated or authorized to 39 take, the legal protections afforded reporters, and the consequences for 40 failing to report. Such coursework or training may also include informa- 41 tion regarding the physical and behavioral indicators of the abuse of 42 individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities 43 and voluntary reporting of abused or neglected adults to the office of 44 mental retardation and developmental disabilities or the local adult 45 protective services unit. Each applicant shall provide the department 46 with documentation showing that he or she has completed the required 47 training. The department shall provide an exemption from the child abuse 48 and maltreatment training requirements to any applicant who requests 49 such an exemption and who shows, to the department's satisfaction, that 50 there would be no need because of the nature of his or her practice for 51 him or her to complete such training; 52 § 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the social 53 services law, as separately amended by chapters 126 and 205 of the laws 54 of 2014, is amended to read as follows: 55 (a) The following persons and officials are required to report or 56 cause a report to be made in accordance with this title when they have

S. 692 6 1 reasonable cause to suspect that a child coming before them in their 2 professional or official capacity is an abused or maltreated child, or 3 when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or 4 maltreated child where the parent, guardian, custodian or other person 5 legally responsible for such child comes before them in their profes- 6 sional or official capacity and states from personal knowledge facts, 7 conditions or circumstances which, if correct, would render the child an 8 abused or maltreated child: any physician; registered physician assist- 9 ant; surgeon; medical examiner; coroner; dentist; dental hygienist; 10 osteopath; optometrist; chiropractor; podiatrist; resident; intern; 11 psychologist; school psychologist; registered nurse; social worker; 12 emergency medical technician; licensed creative arts therapist; licensed 13 marriage and family therapist; licensed mental health counselor; 14 licensed psychoanalyst; licensed behavior analyst; certified behavior 15 analyst assistant; hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examina- 16 tion, care or treatment of persons; a Christian Science practitioner; 17 school official, which includes but is not limited to school teacher, 18 school guidance counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, 19 school nurse, school administrator or other school personnel required to 20 hold a teaching or administrative license or certificate; full or part- 21 time compensated school employee required to hold a temporary coaching 22 license or professional coaching certificate; social services worker; 23 director of a children's overnight camp, summer day camp or traveling 24 summer day camp, as such camps are defined in section thirteen hundred 25 ninety-two of the public health law; day care center worker; school-age 26 child care worker; provider of family or group family day care; employee 27 or volunteer in a residential care facility for children that is 28 licensed, certified or operated by the office of children and family 29 services; or any other child care or foster care worker; mental health 30 professional; substance abuse counselor; alcoholism counselor; all 31 persons credentialed by the office of alcoholism and substance abuse 32 services; peace officer; police officer; district attorney or assistant 33 district attorney; investigator employed in the office of a district 34 attorney; or other law enforcement official. 35 § 4. Section 7602 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the 36 laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows: 37 § 7602. State board for psychology. A state board for psychology 38 shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the 39 commissioner for the purpose of assisting the board of regents and the 40 department on matters of professional licensing and professional conduct 41 in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The 42 board shall be composed of not less than eleven [psychologists licensed 43 in this state] members, a number of whom shall be licensed school 44 psychologists sufficient to assure meaningful participation in board 45 activities. An executive secretary to the board shall be appointed by 46 the board of regents upon the recommendation of the commissioner and 47 shall be a psychologist, licensed in this state. 48 § 5. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part 49 of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to 50 be invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the 51 remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, 52 sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the 53 controversy in which the judgment shall have been rendered. 54 § 6. This act shall take effect twelve months after it shall have 55 become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately the depart- 56 ment of education is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and

S. 692 7 1 regulations and take any other measure necessary to implement this act 2 on or before its effective date, including, but not limited to, the 3 appointment of the state board for psychology, the acceptance and proc- 4 essing of applications for licensure and the issuance of licenses; 5 provided, further, that the provisions of article 166-A of the education 6 law, as added by section one of this act, requiring a license or limited 7 permit to practice under such article shall not be enforced until twen- 8 ty-four months after the effective date of this act.