SB61 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, established to authorize licensed psychologists to practice on a limited basis among compact member states

Summary

SB 61 creates the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) to let licensed psychologists practice telepsychology across member states and perform limited temporary in-person work across state lines, under a new Commission that oversees licensure and discipline.

What This Bill Does

It establishes PSYPACT and the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission to regulate cross-state psychology practice. It allows telepsychology between compact states and temporary in-person practice up to 30 days per year in a distant state, under home state authorization and receiving state rules. It requires participating psychologists to meet strict eligibility (education, active license, identity checks, and an active E.Passport) and to be subject to oversight, investigations, and disciplinary actions. It creates a coordinated licensure information system to share licensure and enforcement data across states and sets enforcement and dispute-resolution procedures.

Who It Affects

• Licensed psychologists in Alabama and other PSYPACT compact states who would be able to provide telepsychology across state lines and, for up to 30 days per year, temporary in-person services in other compact states, subject to regulatory requirements.
• Patients in receiving states who seek telepsychology or short-term in-person services from psychologists licensed in other compact states, with regulatory oversight and information sharing designed to protect public health and safety.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission to oversee PSYPACT, including rulemaking, enforcement, dispute resolution, and financing.
• Permits interjurisdictional telepsychology across compact states and temporary in-person practice up to 30 days per calendar year in distant states, with authority exercised by the home state under the terms of the compact.
• Sets eligibility criteria for psychologists (graduate degree, licensed in a compact state, no adverse actions, current IPC or E.Passport as required, identity history checks, and attestation requirements) to practice under the compact.
• Creates a Coordinated Licensure Information System (coordinated database) to share licensure data, adverse actions, and significant investigatory information among compact states, with confidentiality protections.
• Details the roles and actions of home, receiving, and distant states in regulating practice, and provides for adverse actions and revocation of telepsychology or temporary authority when needed.
• Allows the Commission to enforce rules, pursue enforcement actions, handle defaults/withdrawals of states, and governs dispute resolution; Alabama law may supersede conflicting rules, with Alabama courts retaining jurisdiction over conflicts.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Psychologists