Senate unanimously passes bill easing supervision barriers for prescribing psychologists

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Senate passed Senate Bill 10‑88 unanimously on Feb. 27, a measure sponsors described as streamlining psychology practice and removing barriers for Idaho psychologists who seek prescriptive authority.

Senator Harris, sponsor of the bill, said the legislation “improves and streamlines practices of psychology in the state of Idaho by removing unnecessary barriers, deleting obsolete and redundant language.” Harris told the body the measure replaces a restrictive supervision agreement for provisional prescribing psychologists with a collaborative agreement that can include advanced practice nurses, pharmacists and other experienced prescribers, not only physicians.

Sponsor remarks said Idaho has had only eight prescribing psychologists since the enabling law went into effect eight years earlier and that the supervision requirement had become “cumbersome and an unanticipated barrier.” The bill would also eliminate a permanent advisory panel for prescribing psychologists and permit the division administrator or the board to appoint temporary panels if needed.

The legislation includes other technical changes: it clarifies that graduate students enrolled in doctoral programs that do not award a master’s along the way can qualify as service extenders, and it requires a background check for initial licensure of prescribing psychologists (not retroactive for current licensees). The sponsor said the background‑check requirement was necessary to remain in PSYPACT, the psychology interjurisdictional compact.

The roll call showed 35 senators in favor and none opposed. The Senate approved the bill’s title for transmittal to the House.