LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2191, as amended, Emmerson. Healing arts: behavioral sciences:
licensure.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of marriage
and family therapists, clinical social workers, educational
psychologists, and professional clinical counselors by the Board of
Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Existing law fixes the license fees and creates the Behavioral
Sciences Fund in the State Treasury into which these license fees are
deposited. Existing law specifies requirements for renewal of these
licenses, including completing continuing education, as specified.
This bill would require the board to issue a retired license to a
marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, educational
psychologist, or professional clinical counselor who holds a license
that is current and active or capable of being renewed, and whose
license is not suspended, revoked, or otherwise punitively restricted
by the board or subject to disciplinary action. The bill would
prohibit the holder of a retired license from engaging in any
activity for which an active license in his or her respective
profession is required. The bill would provide that a holder of a
retired license may apply to have his or her license restored to
active status if the holder has not committed an act or crime
constituting grounds for denial of licensure and the holder pays the
required fee, completes specified continuing education requirements,
and complies with fingerprint submission requirements, as specified.
If the applicant's retired license was issued 5 or mor years prior to
the application to restore to active status, the bill would also
require the applicant to apply for licensure and pass the
examinations required for licensure. The bill would fix the retired
license fee at $40.
This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 4996.3
of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2167, to be
operative if AB 2167 and this bill become effective on or before
January 1, 2011, and this bill is enacted last.
Comments/questions on AB 2191 (Emmerson): Healing arts: behavioral sciences: licensure.