HB352 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Psychology, Board of Examiners in, qualifications and membership, inactive license fee, criminal history background checks, penalty for violations increased, obsolete language removed, Sec. 34-26-20 repealed; Secs. 34-26-21, 34-26-41, 34-26-43.1, 34-26-62, 34-26-65, 34-26-66 am'd.

Summary

HB352 updates the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology's composition, adds inactive licensing and background-check requirements, and updates related language and local-funding notes.

What This Bill Does

The bill clarifies the board has eight members, including one member primarily engaged in teaching, research, or administration. It lets licensees request inactive status andallows the board to charge an inactive license fee. It requires fingerprints and criminal-history background checks for licensure applicants, with ALEA forwarding fingerprints to the FBI and maintaining background information as confidential. It removes obsolete language and repeals a previous section, and it notes that, despite local-funding concerns, the bill falls under constitutional exceptions that do not require local approval.

Who It Affects

• Individuals applying for psychology licenses or seeking to maintain licenses (psychologists and psychological technicians) will face background checks, may pay inactive-status fees up to $500, and must follow new inactive/reactivation procedures.
• The Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology and the general public will see changes in board composition, governance duties, and confidentiality rules for background information.

Key Provisions

• Section 34-26-21: Board consists of eight members, including one member from teaching/research/administration, five licensed psychologists, one licensed psychological technician, and one public member.
• Section 34-26-41 and 34-26-43.1: Applicants for licensure must undergo criminal history background checks with fingerprints; background information is confidential; fees may be charged to cover examination and background-check costs; ALEA forwards fingerprints to the FBI.
• Section 34-26-62: Defines duties for psychological technician supervisees and requires supervision contracts, records, and consent forms.
• Section 34-26-65: Sets degree program requirements for psychology education and related standards.
• Section 34-26-66: Requires licensed psychological technicians to be properly licensed to practice; after one year, individuals must not hold themselves out as technicians without a license.
• Repeal of Section 34-26-20: Replaces obsolete language and updates statutory framework.
• Section 3/Section 4: Acknowledges local-funding considerations but classifies the bill as exempt from local approvals under constitutional exceptions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Psychology, Alabama Board of Examiners in