The Board proposes a rule amendment that updates the requirements regarding continuing psychological education credit granted for service as the Board’s Continuing Education Liaison and the Board’s Subject Matter Expert.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Psychology

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B19-13.003Continuing Psychological Education Credit

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes a rule amendment that updates the requirements regarding continuing psychological education credit granted for service as the Board’s Continuing Education Liaison and the Board’s Subject Matter Expert.

SUMMARY: The proposed amendment updates the credit hour granted for board members serving as the Board’s Continuing Education Liaison an as the Board’s Subject Matter Expert (SME).

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 456.013(6), (7), (9), 490.004(4), 490.0085(4) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(6), (7), (9), 490.007(2), 490.0085(1), (3) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Hall, Executive Director, Board of Psychology, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253 – [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B19-13.003 Continuing Psychological Education Credit.

(1) Continuing psychological education credit will be granted for:

(a) through (h) No Change.

(i) Service as the Board’s Continuing Education Liaison shall entitle the board member to receive one credit hour for each hour of review, up to a maximum of (10) hours.

(j) Service as the Board’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) shall entitle the board member to receive one credit hour for each hour of review, up to a maximum of (10) hours.

(k)(i) Completion of continuing education courses approved by any Board within the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the Department of Health, provided that such courses enhance the psychological skills and/or psychological knowledge of the licensee;

(l)(j) The provision of volunteer expert witness opinions for cases being reviewed pursuant to laws and standards relevant to the practice of psychology. Two hours of credit shall be awarded for each case reviewed up to a maximum of ten hours per biennium. In this regard, volunteer expert witnesses are expected to perform a review of the psychological, medical, legal, and/or ethical literature, as appropriate to the case being reviewed;

(m)(k) Serving on American Psychological Association and/or Florida Psychological Association chapter, state, or national boards, editorial boards of peer reviewed journals related to psychology, scientific grant review teams; a maximum of five (5) continuing psychological education credits will be granted per renewal period;

(n)(l) Teaching as an adjunct professor a graduate level course in psychology or related to psychology in a regionally accredited institution; a maximum of twenty (20) continuing education credits will be granted for the first time teaching per course for each renewal period;

(o)(m) Publishing in the field of psychology (research, peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, textbooks or editor or co-editor of peer reviewed journals); a maximum of ten (10) continuing psychological education credits will be granted per publication per renewal period, not to exceed thirty (30) continuing psychological education credits per renewal period;

(p)(n) Performance of Pro Bono Services – A licensee may receive up to six (6) hours per biennium of continuing education credit through the performance of pro bono services to the indigent as provided in section 456.013(9), F.S., or to underserved populations, or in areas of critical need within the state where the licensee practices. In order to receive credit under this rule, licensees must make a written request to the Board and receive approval prior to performing pro bono services in advance. One (1) hour credit shall be given for each two (2) hours worked. In the written request, licensees shall disclose the type, nature and extent of services to be rendered, the facility where the services will be rendered, the number of patients expected to be serviced, and a statement indicating that the patients to be served are indigent. If the licensee intends to provide services in underserved or critical need areas, the written request shall provide a brief explanation as to those facts.

(2) through (5) No Change.

Rulemaking Authority 456.013(6), (7), (9), 490.004(4), 490.0085(4) FS. Law Implemented 456.013(6), (7), (9), 490.007(2), 490.0085(1), (3) FS. History–New 1-28-93, Amended 7-14-93, Formerly 21U-13.0042, Amended 6-14-94, Formerly 61F13-13.0042, Amended 2-8-96, 11-18-96, Formerly 59AA-13.003, Amended 1-10-01, 8-5-01, 5-21-02, 6-3-04, 1-2-06, 12-31-06, 2-24-08, 5-26-08, 1-7-09, 11-8-10, 3-18-14, 11-1-17, 2-23-23,___________________________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Psychology

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Psychology

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 28, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 13, 2023