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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 837

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 745 Session of 1997


        INTRODUCED BY E. Z. TAYLOR, MILLER, SCHRODER, TRUE, OLASZ,
           NAILOR, RUBLEY, ITKIN, HERSHEY, DeLUCA, VANCE, SCRIMENTI,
           SATHER, SAYLOR, PETTIT, YOUNGBLOOD, HENNESSEY, PRESTON,
           MELIO, LYNCH, WAUGH, STABACK, EGOLF, STEELMAN, TIGUE, ROSS,
           COLAFELLA AND BARD, MARCH 11, 1997

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 11, 1997

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), entitled
     2     "An act relating to the practice of psychology, providing for
     3     licensing of psychologists, making certain acts illegal and
     4     providing penalties," adding additional powers of sanction to
     5     the board.

     6     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     7  hereby enacts as follows:
     8     Section 1.  Sections 3(3) and 8(b) of the act of March 23,
     9  1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known as the Professional Psychologists
    10  Practice Act, amended April 25, 1986 (P.L.89, No.33), are
    11  amended to read:
    12     Section 3.  Necessity for License.--It shall be unlawful for
    13  any person to engage in the practice of psychology or to offer
    14  or attempt to do so or to hold himself out to the public by any
    15  title or description of services incorporating the words
    16  "psychological," "psychologist" or "psychology" unless he shall
    17  first have obtained a license pursuant to this act, except as
    18  hereinafter provided:

     1     * * *
     2     (3)  [Nothing] Except as provided in section 8(b)(7) of this
     3  act, nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent qualified
     4  members of other recognized professions, including, but not
     5  limited to, clergy, drug and alcohol abuse counselors, mental
     6  health counselors, social workers, marriage counselors, family
     7  counselors, crisis intervention counselors, pastoral counselors,
     8  rehabilitation counselors and psychoanalysts, from doing work of
     9  a psychological nature consistent with the training and the code
    10  of ethics of their respective professions or to prevent
    11  volunteers from providing services in crisis or emergency
    12  situations.
    13     * * *
    14     Section 8.  Refusal, Suspension or Revocation of License.--*
    15  * *
    16     (b)  When the board finds that the license or application for
    17  license of any person may be refused, revoked, restricted or
    18  suspended under the terms of subsection (a), the board may:
    19     (1)  Deny the application for a license.
    20     (2)  Administer a public reprimand.
    21     (3)  Revoke, suspend, limit or otherwise restrict a license
    22  as determined by the board.
    23     (4)  Require a licensee to submit to the care, counseling or
    24  treatment of a physician or a psychologist designated by the
    25  board.
    26     (5)  Suspend enforcement of its findings thereof and place a
    27  licensee on probation with the right to vacate the probationary
    28  order for noncompliance.
    29     (6)  Restore a suspended license to practice psychology and
    30  impose any disciplinary or corrective measure which it might
    19970H0745B0837                  - 2 -

     1  originally have imposed.
     2     (7)  Take such other action as the board in its discretion
     3  may deem proper, including precluding a suspended licensee from
     4  engaging in counseling or any other form of mental health
     5  practice.
     6     * * *
     7     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.
















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