HB352 Alabama 2016 Session

Under existing law, the practice of psychology is regulated by the Board of Examiners in Psychology, which is comprised of members appointed by the Governor. Existing law establishes the process and requirement for being licensed to practice psychology in the state

This bill would clarify that the board is comprised of eight members and that one of those members shall be primarily engaged in teaching, research, or administration

This bill would revise the process for a licensee to request that the board designate a license as inactive to authorize the board to assess an inactive licensee fee. This bill would require an applicant for a license to submit fingerprints and execute criminal history information release and would require the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to forward the fingerprints of an applicant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This bill would specify that the background information obtained by the board is confidential

This bill would remove obsolete language from the existing law

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology; to amend Sections 34-26-21, 34-26-41, 34-26-43.1, 34-26-62, 34-26-65, and 34-26-66, Code of Alabama 1975; to repeal Section 34-26-20, Code of Alabama 1975, to clarify the number and qualifications of the members of the board; to further specify the procedure for a licensee to request to be placed on inactive status by authorizing the board to charge an inactive license fee; to require a criminal background check of each applicant for a license and to specify the duties of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) in providing background information; to remove obsolete language; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.