PRINTER'S NO. 837
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. B3L63JAM/19970H0745B0837 - 3 -