AN ACT Relating to
psychologists; amending RCW 18.83.010, 18.83.050, 18.83.100, 18.83.135,
18.83.155, 18.83.910, and 18.83.911; and repealing RCW 18.83.025 and 18.83.168.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 18.83.010 and 1991 c
3 s 193 are each amended to read as follows:
When used in this
chapter:
(1) The "practice
of psychology" means the ((application of established principles of
learning, motivation, perception, thinking and emotional relationships to
problems of evaluation, group relations and behavior adjustment, including but
not limited to: (a) Counseling and guidance; (b) use of psychotherapeutic
techniques with clients who have adjustment problems in the family, at school,
at work or in interpersonal relationships; (c) measuring and testing of
personality, intelligence, aptitudes, emotions, public opinion, attitudes and
skills)) observation, evaluation, interpretation, and modification of
human behavior by the application of psychological principles, methods, and
procedures for the purposes of preventing or eliminating symptomatic or
maladaptive behavior and promoting mental and behavioral health. It includes,
but is not limited to, providing the following services to individuals,
families, groups, organizations, and the public, whether or not payment is
received for services rendered:
(a) Psychological
measurement, assessment, and evaluation by means of psychological,
neuropsychological, and psychoeducational testing;
(b) Diagnosis and
treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, and psychological
aspects of illness, injury, and disability; and
(c) Counseling and
guidance, psychotherapeutic techniques, remediation, health promotion, and
consultation within the context of established psychological principles and
theories.
This definition does
not include the teaching of principles of psychology for accredited educational
institutions, or the conduct of research in problems of human or animal
behavior.
Nothing in this
definition shall be construed as permitting the administration or prescribing
of drugs or in any way infringing upon the practice of medicine and surgery as
defined in chapter 18.71 RCW.
(2)
"Secretary" means the secretary of health.
(3) "Board"
means the examining board of psychology.
(4) (("Committee"
means the disciplinary committee established by the board.
(5))) "Department" means the department of
health.
Sec. 2. RCW 18.83.050 and 1991 c
3 s 196 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The board shall adopt
such rules as it deems necessary to carry out its functions.
(2) The board shall examine
the qualifications of applicants for licensing under this chapter, to determine
which applicants are eligible for licensing under this chapter and shall
forward to the secretary the names of applicants so eligible.
(3) The board shall
administer examinations to qualified applicants on at least an annual basis.
The board shall determine the subject matter and scope of the examinations and
shall require both written and oral examinations of each applicant, except as
provided in RCW 18.83.170. The board may allow applicants to take the written
examination upon the granting of their doctoral degree before completion of
their internship for supervised experience.
(4) The board shall keep a
complete record of its own proceedings, of the questions given in examinations,
of the names and qualifications of all applicants, and the names and addresses
of all licensed psychologists. The examination paper of such applicant shall
be kept on file for a period of at least one year after examination.
(5) The board shall, by
rule, adopt a code of ethics for psychologists which is designed to protect the
public interest.
(6) ((The board shall
create a disciplinary committee within the board for the purposes of hearing,
examining, and ruling on complaints and evidence of unethical conduct or
practices brought by the public, other psychologists, organizations,
corporations, public or private agencies, or officers, agencies, or
instrumentalities of state, county, or local governments.
(7))) The board may require that persons licensed
under this chapter as psychologists obtain and maintain professional liability
insurance in amounts determined by the board to be practicable and reasonably
available.
Sec. 3. RCW 18.83.100 and 1986 c
27 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
Failure to renew a license
as provided in this chapter ((shall suspend such)) expires the
license. A license holder whose license has ((been suspended)) expired
for failure to renew may reinstate such license by paying to the state
treasurer the renewal fees for all of the years in which such failure occurred,
together with a renewal fee for the current year, but not to exceed five
years. However, no renewal license shall be issued unless the board shall find
that the applicant has not violated any provision of this chapter since his or
her license was ((suspended)) expired.
Sec. 4. RCW 18.83.135 and 1992 c
12 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
((The disciplinary
committee shall meet at least once each year or upon the call of the
chairperson at such time and place as the chairperson designates. A quorum for
transaction of any business shall consist of three members, one of whom must be
a public member.
The members of the
disciplinary committee shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or
criminal, based upon its disciplinary proceedings or other official acts
performed in good faith as members of the committee.))
In addition to the
authority prescribed under RCW 18.130.050, the ((committee)) board
shall have the following authority:
(1) To maintain records of
all activities, and to publish and distribute to all psychologists at least
once each year abstracts of significant activities of the committee; and
(2) To obtain the written
consent of the complaining client or patient or their legal representative, or
of any person who may be affected by the complaint, in order to obtain
information which otherwise might be confidential or privileged.
(((3) Whenever the
workload of the committee requires, the board may request that the secretary
appoint pro tempore members. While serving as members pro tempore persons
shall have all the powers, duties, and immunities, and are entitled to the
emoluments, including travel expenses, of the committee.))
Sec. 5. RCW 18.83.155 and 1987 c
150 s 54 are each amended to read as follows:
The ((committee)) board
shall report to appropriate national and state organizations which represent
the profession of psychology any disciplinary action ((taken pursuant
to an investigation or hearing that finds a licensee has committed
unprofessional or unethical conduct)).
Sec. 6. RCW 18.83.910 and 1990 c
297 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
The powers and duties of
the examining board of psychology shall be terminated on June 30, ((1995))
2004, as provided in RCW 18.83.911.
Sec. 7. RCW 18.83.911 and 1990 c
297 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
The following acts or parts
of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective
June 30, ((1996)) 2005:
(1) Section 76, chapter
279, Laws of 1984, section 2, chapter 27, Laws of 1986, section 1, chapter 226,
Laws of 1989 and RCW 18.83.035;
(2) Section 77, chapter
279, Laws of 1984 and RCW 18.83.045;
(3) Section 5, chapter 305,
Laws of 1955, section 5, chapter 70, Laws of 1965, section 78, chapter 279,
Laws of 1984, section 3, chapter 27, Laws of 1986 and RCW 18.83.050; and
(4) Section 21, chapter 70,
Laws of 1965, section 19, chapter 199, Laws of 1969 ex. sess., section 48,
chapter 34, Laws of 1975-'76 2nd ex. sess., section 10, chapter 168, Laws of
1983, section 48, chapter 287, Laws of 1984 and RCW 18.83.051.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
8. The following acts or parts
of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 18.83.025 and 1991 c 3 s
194 & 1984 c 279 s 87; and
(2) RCW 18.83.168 and 1986 c 27 s
7.
