Add Art 166-A §§8720 - 8727, amd §§6507, 6503-a & 7602, Ed L; amd §413, Soc Serv L
 
Provides for the licensure of school psychologists; authorizes the use of the title "school psychologist" to licensed or exempt individuals; defines practice of school psychology; sets forth requirements for professional licensure (including educational attainment, experience, exam and fee); provides for issuance of limited permits under specified circumstances; identifies exempt persons.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1132D
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law and the social
services law, in relation to the practice of school psychology, and
establishing a pilot program of multi-tiered system of support model of
substance use prevention and intervention
 
PURPOSE:
This bill provides for licensure of school psychologists and defines the
educational and experiential qualifications necessary for licensure and
continued practice.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one is legislative intent.
Section two amends the education law by adding a new Article 166-A.
Section three amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 6507 of
the education law, to include licensed school psychologist in require-
ment of licensed professionals having mandatory training in the iden-
tification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment.
Section four amends section 7602 of the education law to include school
psychologists within the State board of psychology.
Section five amends paragraph (a) of subdivision I of section 413 of the
social services law, to include school psychologists as a mandatory
reporters.
Section six creates a multi-agency, multi-tiered pilot program aimed at
dealing with the heroin and opioid addiction problem in children.
Section seven amends subdivision 1 of Section 6503-a of the education
law.
Section eight is a severability clause.
Section nine sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
With an increasing heroin epidemic threatening our children we must work
to ensure that enough support is available for these students and their
parents to seek the help they need, by allowing school psychologists to
assist children outside of a traditional setting. Increasing the number
of trained individuals who are able to assist students outside of an
educational setting will be a positive to the children, parents, school,
and society. School psychologists are trained and educated in the
psychology of learning, motivation and human development in order to
address the many factors influencing the performance of students. These
factors may include school diversity, school climate and
home/school/community collaboration. By addressing the needs of students
through prevention services, assessments and/or counseling, school
psychologists can contribute to the future success of students, it is
important that school psychologists are held to specific standards and
requirements that will ensure competent services for school children and
their families. This bill is necessary to provide schools with a frame-
work in which they can be assured they are employing licensed school
psychologists.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015-16: A.420 - Referred to Higher Education; S.6587 - Referred to
Higher Education
2013-14: A.3570-B - Referred to Higher Education; S.2923-B - Referred to
Higher Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Positive to the state as it will generate license fees.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 12 months after it shall have become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1132--D
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, M. G. MILLER, OTIS, SKOUFIS,
STIRPE, CUSICK, ABINANTI, BENEDETTO, FAHY, ZEBROWSKI, DICKENS, PAULIN,
BOHEN, MIKULIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN, BUCHWALD,
GALEF, LALOR, LUPARDO, McDONOUGH, MONTESANO -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted
to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule
3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said
committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommit-
ted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law and the social services law, in
relation to the practice of school psychology, and establishing a
pilot program of multi-tiered system of support model of substance use
prevention and intervention
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent and findings. The legislature finds that
2 while significant steps have been taken through legislation to implement
3 the recommendations of executive and legislative task forces in the
4 joint effort to combat the heroin and opioid crises in New York state,
5 much more must be done to identify risk factors, develop community
6 response and support strategies and to increase access to treatment.
7 The legislature intends to build on the initial aggressive efforts of
8 the executive and legislative by recognizing the significant role mental
9 and behavioral health professionals play in identifying the warning
10 signs of heroin and opioid addiction in our children and the maladaptive
11 behaviors that lead to early drug use and ultimately abuse and
12 addiction. The legislature recognizes that certified school psychol-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04588-15-8
A. 1132--D 2
1 ogists are uniquely qualified to identify the risk and protective
2 factors, coupled with adverse childhood experiences which constitute the
3 drug abuse process. However, these highly trained specialists are
4 constrained to provide vital services to the school setting only. The
5 legislature finds that the state's mission to address the heroin and
6 opioid crises in the state will be advanced through the licensure of
7 school psychologists and the meaningful involvement of these trained
8 practitioners in the development of a school and community based strate-
9 gy of response and support.
10 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 166-A to
11 read as follows:
12 ARTICLE 166-A
13 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
14 Section 8720. Introduction.
15 8721. Practice of school psychology and use of the title "school
16 psychologist".
17 8722. Definition of the practice of school psychology.
18 8723. Requirements for a professional license.
19 8724. Boundaries of professional competency.
20 8725. Limited permits.
21 8726. Exemptions.
22 8727. Special provisions.
23 § 8720. Introduction. This article applies to the profession and prac-
24 tice of school psychology and to the use of the title "licensed school
25 psychologist". The general provisions for all professions contained in
26 article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this article.
27 § 8721. Practice of school psychology and use of the title "school
28 psychologist". Only a person licensed or exempt under this article
29 shall practice school psychology or use the title "licensed school
30 psychologist".
31 § 8722. Definition of the practice of school psychology. The practice
32 of school psychology is:
33 1. the assessment, including psycho-educational, developmental and
34 vocational assessment, evaluation and interpretation of intelligence,
35 cognitive processes, aptitudes, interests, academic achievement,
36 adjustment, personality factors and motivations, or any other attri-
37 butes, to individuals or groups of individuals aged birth to twenty-five
38 years that relate to learning, education or adjustment needs;
39 2. the development and implementation of educationally-related
40 psychotherapeutic and behavioral approaches to increase school adjust-
41 ment and academic success, counseling and interpretive services to
42 reduce education-related problems including, but not limited to, verbal
43 interaction, interviewing, behavior techniques, developmental and voca-
44 tional intervention, environmental management and group processes;
45 3. consultation with representatives of schools, agencies and organ-
46 izations, families or individuals, including psycho-educational, devel-
47 opmental and vocational assistance or direct educational services,
48 related to learning problems and adjustments to those problems to the
49 benefit of an individual or group of individuals age birth to twenty-
50 five years; and
51 4. the development of programming, including designing, implementing
52 or evaluating educationally and psychologically sound learning environ-
53 ments and the facilitation of psycho-educational development of individ-
54 uals, families or groups.
A. 1132--D 3
1 § 8723. Requirements for a professional license. To qualify for a
2 license as a licensed school psychologist, an applicant shall fulfill
3 the following requirements:
4 1. Application: File an application with the department;
5 2. Education: Complete a minimum of sixty graduate semester hours in
6 psychology credits including a master's degree and fulfill the require-
7 ments of an advanced certificate in school psychology or its equivalent
8 or doctoral degree in school psychology from a program registered by the
9 department, or determined by the department to be the substantial equiv-
10 alent in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. The graduate
11 coursework shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas:
12 (i) biological, social and cultural bases of development;
13 (ii) psychopathology and exceptionality in learning and behavior;
14 (iii) assessment and appraisal of learners in home and school
15 contexts;
16 (iv) consultation and collaboration in family, school and community
17 systems;
18 (v) effective instruction and development of cognitive and academic
19 skills;
20 (vi) prevention and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders
21 and deficits;
22 (vii) school organization, curriculum, policy and law;
23 (viii) research and program evaluation;
24 (ix) profession and ethical practice of psychology in schools; and
25 (x) completion of a twelve hundred hour supervised internship in
26 school psychology, with no less than six hundred hours completed within
27 a school setting.
28 3. Experience: Complete a minimum of two thousand four hundred hours
29 of post-master's supervised experience relevant to the practice of
30 school psychology satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the
31 commissioner's regulations, such supervised experience which may include
32 one thousand two hundred hours completed as part of a program in school
33 psychology. Satisfactory experience obtained in an entity operating
34 under a waiver issued by the department pursuant to section sixty-five
35 hundred three-a of this title may be accepted by the department,
36 notwithstanding that such experience may have been obtained prior to the
37 effective date of such section sixty-five hundred three-a and/or prior
38 to the entity having obtained a waiver. The department may, for good
39 cause shown, accept satisfactory experience that was obtained in a
40 setting that would have been eligible for a waiver but which has not
41 obtained a waiver from the department or experience that was obtained in
42 good faith by the applicant under the belief that appropriate authori-
43 zation had been obtained for the experience, provided that such experi-
44 ence meets all other requirements for acceptable experience;
45 4. Examination: Pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in
46 accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
47 5. Age: Be at least twenty-one years of age;
48 6. Character: Be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
49 ment; and
50 7. Fees: Pay a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars to the depart-
51 ment for admission to a department conducted examination and for an
52 initial license and a fee of one hundred seventy dollars for each trien-
53 nial registration period.
54 § 8724. Boundaries of professional competency. 1. It shall be deemed
55 practicing outside the boundaries of his or her professional competence
56 for a person licensed pursuant to this article, in the case of treatment
A. 1132--D 4
1 of any serious mental illness, to provide any mental health services
2 for such illness on a continuous and sustained basis without a medical
3 evaluation of the illness by, and consultation with, a physician regard-
4 ing such illness. Such medical evaluation and consultation shall be to
5 determine and advise whether any medical care is indicated for such
6 illness. For purposes of this section, "serious mental illness" means
7 schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major
8 depressive disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
9 Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent, limit or impair
10 consultation with any other health or mental health professional. Noth-
11 ing herein contained shall limit, modify, restrict or otherwise affect
12 the definition of the practice of school psychology as provided in
13 section eighty-seven hundred twenty-two of this article.
14 2. Any individual whose license or authority to practice derives from
15 the provisions of this article shall be prohibited from:
16 (a) prescribing or administering drugs as defined in this chapter as a
17 treatment, therapy, or professional service in the practice of his or
18 her profession; or
19 (b) using invasive procedures as a treatment, therapy, or professional
20 service in the practice of his or her profession. For purposes of this
21 subdivision, "invasive procedure" means any procedure in which human
22 tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or other
23 means. Invasive procedure includes surgery, lasers, ionizing radiation,
24 therapeutic ultrasound, or electroconvulsive therapy; or
25 (c) engaging in dual setting practice, or otherwise offering or
26 providing private practice services to a student of a school or special
27 education program where the practitioner is currently employed or under
28 contract with such school or program.
29 3. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to authorize, grant or
30 extend hospital privileges to individuals licensed under this article.
31 § 8725. Limited permits. 1. The department may issue a limited permit
32 to an applicant whose qualifications have been approved for admission to
33 the examination in accordance with regulations promulgated therefor.
34 2. Limited permits shall be for one year and be renewed, at the
35 discretion of the department, for one additional year.
36 3. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be
37 seventy dollars.
38 § 8726. Exemptions. Nothing contained in this article shall be
39 construed to:
40 1. apply to the practice, conduct, activities, services or use of any
41 title by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medi-
42 cine within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one of this
43 title or by any person registered to perform services as a physician
44 assistant within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one-B
45 of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to prac-
46 tice psychology within this state pursuant to article one hundred
47 fifty-three of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise author-
48 ized to practice as a licensed clinical social worker within this state
49 pursuant to article one hundred fifty-four of this title, or by any
50 person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice nursing as a regis-
51 tered professional nurse within this state pursuant to article one
52 hundred thirty-nine of this title, or by any person licensed or other-
53 wise authorized to practice mental health counseling, marriage and fami-
54 ly therapy, creative arts therapy, or psychoanalysis within the state,
55 or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice applied
56 behavior analysis within the state pursuant to this article; provided,
A. 1132--D 5
1 however, that no physician, physician's assistant, registered profes-
2 sional nurse, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed
3 mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist,
4 licensed creative arts therapist, licensed psychoanalyst or licensed
5 applied behavior analyst may use the title unless licensed under this
6 article;
7 2. prohibit or limit any individual who is credentialed under any law,
8 including attorneys, rape crisis counselors, certified alcoholism coun-
9 selors and certified substance abuse counselors from providing mental
10 health services within their respective established authorities;
11 3. prohibit or limit the practice of a profession licensed pursuant
12 to this article by a student, intern or resident in, and as a part of, a
13 supervised educational program in an institution approved by the depart-
14 ment;
15 4. prohibit or limit the provision of pastoral counseling services by
16 any member of the clergy or Christian Science practitioner, within the
17 context of his or her ministerial charge or obligation;
18 5. prohibit or limit individuals, churches, schools, teachers, organ-
19 izations, or not-for-profit businesses, from providing instruction,
20 advice, support, encouragement, or information to individuals, families,
21 and relational groups;
22 6. prohibit or limit an occupational therapist from performing work
23 consistent with article one hundred fifty-six of this title; or
24 7. affect or prevent the activities or services on the part of a
25 person in the employ of a federal, state, county, or municipal agency,
26 other political subdivision, or a chartered elementary or secondary
27 school or degree-granting educational institution insofar as such activ-
28 ities and services are a part of the duties of such person's salaried
29 position.
30 § 8727. Special provisions. 1. Any nonexempt person practicing the
31 profession of school psychology shall apply for a license of such
32 profession within one year of the effective date of this section.
33 (a) If such person does not meet the requirements for a license estab-
34 lished within this article, such person may meet alternative criteria
35 determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent of such
36 criteria.
37 (b) If such person meets the requirements for a license established
38 within this article, except for examination, and has been certified or
39 registered by a national certifying or registering body having certif-
40 ication or registration standards acceptable to the commissioner, the
41 department shall license without examination.
42 2. Notwithstanding the requirements of section eighty-seven hundred
43 twenty-three of this article, and for a period of time not to exceed two
44 years from the effective date of this article, an individual may be
45 licensed as a school psychologist provided such person has either:
46 (a) met the educational requirements as defined in section eighty-sev-
47 en hundred twenty-three of this article and performed the duties of a
48 school psychologist as authorized by article one hundred fifty-three of
49 this chapter or any other provision of law, for two of the past five
50 years prior to the effective date of this article; or
51 (b) performed the duties of a school psychologist as authorized by
52 article one hundred fifty-three of this chapter or any other provision
53 of law, for at least five years prior to the effective date of this
54 article.
55 3. Any person licensed pursuant to this article may use accepted codes
56 and classifications of signs, symptoms, dysfunctions and disorders, as
A. 1132--D 6
1 approved in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department,
2 in the practice of such licensed profession.
3 4. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to alter, modify or affect
4 the provisions of section three thousand twelve or twenty-five hundred
5 ten of this chapter or otherwise affect the certification of a school
6 psychologist.
7 § 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 6507 of the education
8 law, as amended by chapter 554 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read
9 as follows:
10 a. Establish standards for preprofessional and professional education,
11 experience and licensing examinations as required to implement the arti-
12 cle for each profession. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
13 commissioner shall establish standards requiring that all persons apply-
14 ing, on or after January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one, initially,
15 or for the renewal of, a license, registration or limited permit to be a
16 physician, chiropractor, dentist, registered nurse, podiatrist, optome-
17 trist, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed school psychologist,
18 licensed master social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed
19 creative arts therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist,
20 licensed mental health counselor, licensed psychoanalyst, dental hygien-
21 ist, licensed behavior analyst, or certified behavior analyst assistant
22 shall, in addition to all the other licensure, certification or permit
23 requirements, have completed two hours of coursework or training regard-
24 ing the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment.
25 The coursework or training shall be obtained from an institution or
26 provider which has been approved by the department to provide such
27 coursework or training. The coursework or training shall include infor-
28 mation regarding the physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse
29 and maltreatment and the statutory reporting requirements set out in
30 sections four hundred thirteen through four hundred twenty of the social
31 services law, including but not limited to, when and how a report must
32 be made, what other actions the reporter is mandated or authorized to
33 take, the legal protections afforded reporters, and the consequences for
34 failing to report. Such coursework or training may also include informa-
35 tion regarding the physical and behavioral indicators of the abuse of
36 individuals with [mental retardation and other] developmental disabili-
37 ties and voluntary reporting of abused or neglected adults to the office
38 [of mental retardation and] for people with developmental disabilities
39 or the local adult protective services unit. Each applicant shall
40 provide the department with documentation showing that he or she has
41 completed the required training. The department shall provide an
42 exemption from the child abuse and maltreatment training requirements to
43 any applicant who requests such an exemption and who shows, to the
44 department's satisfaction, that there would be no need because of the
45 nature of his or her practice for him or her to complete such training;
46 § 4. Section 7602 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the
47 laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
48 § 7602. State board for psychology. A state board for psychology
49 shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the
50 commissioner for the purpose of assisting the board of regents and the
51 department on matters of professional licensing and professional conduct
52 in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The
53 board shall be composed of not less than eleven [psychologists licensed
54 in this state] members, a number of whom shall be licensed school
55 psychologists sufficient to assure meaningful participation in board
56 activities. An executive secretary to the board shall be appointed by
A. 1132--D 7
1 the board of regents upon the recommendation of the commissioner and
2 shall be a psychologist, licensed in this state.
3 § 5. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the social
4 services law, as amended by section 7 of part C of chapter 57 of the
5 laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
6 (a) The following persons and officials are required to report or
7 cause a report to be made in accordance with this title when they have
8 reasonable cause to suspect that a child coming before them in their
9 professional or official capacity is an abused or maltreated child, or
10 when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or
11 maltreated child where the parent, guardian, custodian or other person
12 legally responsible for such child comes before them in their profes-
13 sional or official capacity and states from personal knowledge facts,
14 conditions or circumstances which, if correct, would render the child an
15 abused or maltreated child: any physician; registered physician assist-
16 ant; surgeon; medical examiner; coroner; dentist; dental hygienist;
17 osteopath; optometrist; chiropractor; podiatrist; resident; intern;
18 psychologist; licensed school psychologist; registered nurse; social
19 worker; emergency medical technician; licensed creative arts therapist;
20 licensed marriage and family therapist; licensed mental health counse-
21 lor; licensed psychoanalyst; licensed behavior analyst; certified behav-
22 ior analyst assistant; hospital personnel engaged in the admission,
23 examination, care or treatment of persons; a Christian Science practi-
24 tioner; school official, which includes but is not limited to school
25 teacher, school guidance counselor, school psychologist, school social
26 worker, school nurse, school administrator or other school personnel
27 required to hold a teaching or administrative license or certificate;
28 full or part-time compensated school employee required to hold a tempo-
29 rary coaching license or professional coaching certificate; social
30 services worker; employee of a publicly-funded emergency shelter for
31 families with children; director of a children's overnight camp, summer
32 day camp or traveling summer day camp, as such camps are defined in
33 section thirteen hundred ninety-two of the public health law; day care
34 center worker; school-age child care worker; provider of family or group
35 family day care; employee or volunteer in a residential care facility
36 for children that is licensed, certified or operated by the office of
37 children and family services; or any other child care or foster care
38 worker; mental health professional; substance abuse counselor; alcohol-
39 ism counselor; all persons credentialed by the office of alcoholism and
40 substance abuse services; employees, who are expected to have regular
41 and substantial contact with children, of a health home or health home
42 care management agency contracting with a health home as designated by
43 the department of health and authorized under section three hundred
44 sixty-five-l of this chapter or such employees who provide home and
45 community based services under a demonstration program pursuant to
46 section eleven hundred fifteen of the federal social security act who
47 are expected to have regular and substantial contact with children;
48 peace officer; police officer; district attorney or assistant district
49 attorney; investigator employed in the office of a district attorney; or
50 other law enforcement official.
51 § 6. The education department, the office of children and family
52 services, the office of mental health and the office of alcoholism and
53 substance abuse services are hereby directed to establish a multi-tiered
54 system of support (MTSS) model of substance use prevention and inter-
55 vention utilizing tiered levels of primary prevention services and
56 secondary and tertiary intervention services and to pilot such model in
A. 1132--D 8
1 communities with occurrences of heroin and opioid addiction in children
2 under the age of twenty-five in New York state. Such model shall be
3 designed with the meaningful participation of mental and behavioral
4 health practitioners whose training focuses on the needs of children
5 under the age of twenty-five including, but not limited to, school
6 psychologists, such practitioners being uniquely qualified to implement
7 the model to the fullest extent possible. Such pilot shall be designed
8 for implementation by September 1, 2019.
9 § 7. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section
10 6503-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 554 of the laws of
11 2013, is amended to read as follows:
12 (i) services provided under article one hundred fifty-four, one
13 hundred sixty-three [or], one hundred sixty-seven or one hundred sixty-
14 six-A of this title for which licensure would be required, or
15 § 8. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part
16 of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to
17 be invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the
18 remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause,
19 sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the
20 controversy in which the judgment shall have been rendered.
21 § 9. This act shall take effect twelve months after it shall have
22 become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately the depart-
23 ment of education is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and
24 regulations and take any other measure necessary to implement this act
25 on or before its effective date, including, but not limited to, the
26 appointment of the state board for psychology, the acceptance and proc-
27 essing of applications for licensure and the issuance of licenses; and
28 provided, further, that the provisions of article 166-A of the education
29 law, as added by section two of this act, requiring a license or limited
30 permit to practice under such article shall not be enforced until twen-
31 ty-four months after the effective date of this act.