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Panel hears bill letting Board of Psychology recover disciplinary costs from licensees
Summary
Senate Bill 789 would authorize the Oregon Board of Psychology to recover specified portions of investigation and hearing costs from disciplined licensees under a tiered structure; testimony gave projected modest revenue and said the change would align psychology with other health licensing boards.
Senate Bill 789 was the subject of a public hearing March 13 before the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health. The bill would allow the Oregon Board of Psychology to require a person who receives disciplinary action to pay costs associated with that action and outlines what those costs may include.
Todd Youngkin, executive director of the Oregon Mental Health Regulatory Agency, told the committee the bill establishes a tiered recovery structure. "No cost may be recovered when total costs are not greater than $3,000; up to 50% of the total cost may be recovered for costs greater than $3,000 but not greater than $6,000; and up to 100% of total cost may be recovered for costs greater than $6,000," Youngkin said. He said allowed recoverable costs would include assigned Assistant Attorney General fees, Office of Administrative Hearings billing for contested-case hearings, expert consultant and witness fees; appellate costs would not be recoverable.
Youngkin said the board projects uncertain fiscal impact but conservatively estimated roughly $17,000 in revenue over 18 months of the 2025–27 biennium and about $23,000 for the 2027–29 biennium. He told the committee the authority would align the board with nine other health licensing boards that already have cost-recovery statutes.
Committee staff summarized the bill as taking effect "on the 91st day following adjournment sine die." Agency testimony also said the board anticipates cost recovery could begin on the first day of 2026; both timing references were presented in committee testimony and would be resolved in bill drafting and enactment timelines.
The committee closed the public hearing; staff and agency representatives said they were available for questions.
