Existing law provides for the licensure of health facilities by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires that the licensure requirements for professional personnel, including psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists, among others, in state and other governmental health facilities, be not less than for those in privately owned health facilities. The department may grant a waiver from licensure requirements for persons in the professions of psychology, marriage and family therapy, or clinical social work who are employed in publicly operated health facilities who are gaining qualifying experience for licensure. The waiver cannot exceed 3 years from the commencement of employment in the state in the case of psychologists or 4 years for marriage and family therapists or clinical social workers, with one additional year to be granted to marriage and family therapists or clinical social workers under extenuating circumstances. Existing law requires the department to grant the extension of a waiver for extenuating circumstances if specified conditions are met.

Existing law provides for the licensure of psychiatric health facilities by the State Department of Mental Health.

This bill would authorize the State Department of Mental Health to grant the above-described waiver and an extension of the waiver for persons employed in facilities licensed by the State Department of Mental Health.