AB537: Bill Text

AB537,43,16 (g) The commission shall grant an opportunity for a public hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment if a hearing is requested by:

AB537,43,18 1. At least twenty-five (25) persons who submit comments independently of each other;

AB537,43,19 2. A governmental subdivision or agency; or

AB537,43,21 3. A duly appointed person in an association that has having at least twenty-five (25) members.

AB537,43,23 (h) If a hearing is held on the proposed rule or amendment, the commission shall publish the place, time, and date of the scheduled public hearing.

AB537,44,2 1. All persons wishing to be heard at the hearing shall notify the executive director of the commission or other designated member in writing of their desire to appear and testify at the hearing not less than five (5) business days before the scheduled date of the hearing.

AB537,44,4 2. Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in writing.

AB537,44,10 3. No transcript of the hearing is required, unless a written request for a transcript is made, in which case the person requesting the transcript shall bear the cost of producing the transcript. A recording may be made in lieu of a transcript under the same terms and conditions as a transcript. This subdivision shall not preclude the commission from making a transcript or recording of the hearing if it so chooses.

AB537,44,13 4. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as requiring a separate hearing on each rule. Rules may be grouped for the convenience of the commission at hearings required by this paragraph.

AB537,44,16 (i) Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close of business on the scheduled hearing date if the hearing was not held, the commission shall consider all written and oral comments received.

AB537,44,19 (j) The commission shall, by majority vote of all members, take final action on the proposed rule and shall determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule.

AB537,44,22 (k) If no written notice of intent to attend the public hearing by interested parties is received, the commission may proceed with promulgation of the proposed rule without a public hearing.

AB537,45,4 (L) Upon determination that an emergency exists, the commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without prior notice, opportunity for comment, or hearing, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in the compact and in this paragraph shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this provision, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted immediately in order to:

AB537,45,5 1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare;

AB537,45,6 2. Prevent a loss of commission or compact state funds;

AB537,45,8 3. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that is established by federal law or rule; or

AB537,45,9 4. Protect public health and safety.

AB537,45,20 (m) The commission or an authorized committee of the commission may direct revisions to a previously adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. Public notice of any revisions shall be posted on the website of the commission. The revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30) days after posting. The revision may be challenged only on grounds that the revision results in a material change to a rule. A challenge shall be made in writing, and delivered to the chair of the commission prior to the end of the notice period. If no challenge is made, the revision will take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take effect without the approval of the commission.

AB537,45,25 (12) Article XII — Oversight, dispute resolution and enforcement. (a) Oversight. 1. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government in each compact state shall enforce this compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of this compact and the rules promulgated hereunder shall have standing as statutory law.

AB537,46,4 2. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a compact state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the commission.

AB537,46,8 3. The commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any such proceeding, and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service of process to the commission shall render a judgment or order void as to the commission, this compact or promulgated rules.

AB537,46,12 (b) Default, technical assistance, and termination. 1. If the commission determines that a compact state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact or the promulgated rules, the commission shall:

AB537,46,15 a. Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other compact states of the nature of the default, the proposed means of remedying the default and/or any other action to be taken by the commission; and

AB537,46,17 b. Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.

AB537,46,23 2. If a state in default fails to remedy the default, the defaulting state may be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the compact states, and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this compact shall be terminated on the effective date of termination. A remedy of the default does not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default.

AB537,47,3 3. Termination of membership in the compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be submitted by the commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and each of the compact states.

AB537,47,7 4. A compact state which has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations which extend beyond the effective date of termination.

AB537,47,10 5. The commission shall not bear any costs incurred by the state which is found to be in default or which has been terminated from the compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the commission and the defaulting state.

AB537,47,14 6. The defaulting state may appeal the action of the commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the state of Georgia or the federal district where the compact has its principal offices. The prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

AB537,47,17 (c) Dispute resolution. 1. Upon request by a compact state, the commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the compact which arise among compact states and between compact and non-compact states.

AB537,47,19 2. The commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes that arise before the commission.

AB537,47,21 (d) Enforcement. 1. The commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this compact.

AB537,48,3 2. By majority vote, the commission may initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the State of Georgia or the federal district where the compact has its principal offices against a compact state in default to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

AB537,48,5 3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the commission. The commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal or state law.

AB537,48,13 (13) Article XIII — Date of implementation of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission and associated rules, withdrawal, and amendments. (a) The compact shall come into effect on the date on which the compact is enacted into law in the seventh compact state. The provisions which become effective at that time shall be limited to the powers granted to the commission relating to assembly and the promulgation of rules. Thereafter, the commission shall meet and exercise rulemaking powers necessary to the implementation and administration of the compact.

AB537,48,18 (b) Any state which joins the compact subsequent to the commission's initial adoption of the rules shall be subject to the rules as they exist on the date on which the compact becomes law in that state. Any rule which has been previously adopted by the commission shall have the full force and effect of law on the day the compact becomes law in that state.

AB537,48,20 (c) Any compact state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same.

AB537,48,22 1. A compact state's withdrawal shall not take effect until six (6) months after enactment of the repealing statute.

AB537,48,25 2. Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the withdrawing state's psychology regulatory authority to comply with the investigative and adverse action reporting requirements of this act prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

AB537,49,4 (d) Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent any psychology licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a compact state and a non-compact state which does not conflict with the provisions of this compact.

AB537,49,7 (e) This compact may be amended by the compact states. No amendment to this compact shall become effective and binding upon any compact state until it is enacted into the law of all compact states.

AB537,49,11 (14) Article XIV — Construction and severability. This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state member thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining compact states.

AB537,47 Section 47. 455.51 of the statutes is created to read:

AB537,49,14 455.51 Implementation of the psychology interjurisdictional compact. (1) In this section:

AB537,49,16 (a) “Authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology" has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (b).

AB537,49,18 (b) “Interjurisdictional practice certificate” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (im).

AB537,49,19 (c) “E.Passport” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (g).

AB537,49,21 (d) “Temporary authorization to practice” has the meaning given in s. 455.50 (2) (o).

AB537,49,24 (2) (a) 1. An individual who holds an interjurisdictional practice certificate and is exercising the temporary authorization to practice in this state shall comply with s. 440.03 (13) (am).

AB537,50,2 2. An individual who holds an E.Passport and is practicing under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology shall comply with s. 440.03 (13) (am).

AB537,50,7 (b) 1. Subject to s. 455.50 and any rules promulgated thereunder, ss. 440.20 to 440.22 and the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1) shall apply to an individual who holds an interjurisdictional practice certificate and is exercising the temporary authorization to practice in this state in the same manner that they apply to holders of licenses issued under subch. I.

AB537,50,12 2. Subject to s. 455.50 and any rules promulgated thereunder, ss. 440.20 to 440.22 and the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1) shall apply to an individual who holds an E.Passport and is practicing under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology in the same manner that they apply to holders of licenses issued under subch. I.

AB537,48 Section 48. 457.02 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB537,50,19 457.02 (3) Require a person who is licensed as a psychologist under ch. 455 or who is a psychiatrist to be licensed under this chapter in order to use the title “marriage and family therapist," “marriage and family counselor," or “professional counselor" if the psychologist or psychiatrist does not use the term “licensed," “certified," or “registered" or any similar term in connection with the title “marriage and family therapist," “marriage and family counselor," or “professional counselor."

AB537,49 Section 49. 632.89 (1) (e) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB537,50,21 632.89 (1) (e) 3. A psychologist licensed under ch. 455.

AB537,50 Section 50. 905.04 (1) (e) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act 22, is amended to read:

AB537,51,3 905.04 (1) (e) “Psychologist" means a psychologist licensed under s. 455.04 (1) or (2), as defined in s. 990.01 (31m), or a person reasonably believed by the patient to be a psychologist.

AB537,51 Section 51. 939.615 (6) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB537,51,18 939.615 (6) (e) A person filing a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision who is entitled to a hearing under par. (d) 2. shall be examined by a person who is either a physician or a psychologist licensed under ch. 455 and who is approved by the court. The physician or psychologist who conducts an examination under this paragraph shall prepare a report of his or her examination that includes his or her opinion of whether the person petitioning for termination of lifetime supervision is a danger to public. The physician or psychologist shall file the report of his or her examination with the court within 60 days after completing the examination, and the court shall provide copies of the report to the person filing the petition and the district attorney who received a copy of the person's petition under par. (c). The contents of the report shall be confidential until the physician or psychologist testifies at a hearing under par. (f). The person petitioning for termination of lifetime supervision shall pay the cost of an examination required under this paragraph.

AB537,52 Section 52. 971.16 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB537,53 Section 53. 971.17 (7) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB537,52,3 971.17 (7) (c) If the person wishes to be examined by a physician, as defined in s. 971.16 (1) (a), or a psychologist, as defined in s. 971.16 (1) (b), or other expert of his or her choice, the procedure under s. 971.16 (4) shall apply. Upon motion of an indigent person, the court shall appoint a qualified and available examiner for the person at public expense. Examiners for the person or the district attorney shall have reasonable access to the person for purposes of examination, and to the person's past and present treatment records, as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records as provided under s. 146.82 (2) (c).

AB537,54 Section 54. 990.01 (31m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB537,52,8 990.01 (31m) Psychologist. “Psychologist” means a psychologist who is licensed under s. 455.04 (1) or (2), is exercising the temporary authorization to practice, as defined in s. 455.50 (2) (o), in this state, or is practicing under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology, as defined in s. 455.50 (2) (b).

AB537,52,9 (End)