Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board backs AB 82 and SB 402 and approves fingerprinting authority language for state legislation
Summary
At its Aug. 22 meeting the board voted to support AB 82 (protections for gender-affirming and reproductive health care providers) and SB 402 (autism service provider definitions) and approved draft language to secure explicit fingerprinting authority for board license checks.
The California Board of Psychology took several legislative positions and approvals on Aug. 22 related to provider protections, autism‑service oversight and fingerprinting authority.
The board voted to adopt a support position on AB 82, legislation that would expand legally protected health‑care activities to include gender‑affirming care and mental health services and would allow eligible providers to apply for the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program. The legislative and regulatory affairs committee had recommended a board support position and the board approved that recommendation.
The board also voted to support SB 402, which would move definitions for qualified autism service provider, professional and paraprofessional into the Business and Professions Code so that oversight of autism‑related behavioral health services is aligned with professional licensing boards.
Separately, board staff presented draft statutory language to ensure the board has explicit authority to require fingerprints for federal fingerprint checks (DOJ/FBI). Staff said the FBI has recently audited other jurisdictions and found that some boards lack explicit statutory authority for federal checks; without legislative clarification, DOJ told staff the board’s ability to obtain FBI background checks could be at risk. The board approved the staff‑draft language and authorized the executive officer to pursue inclusion of that language in an appropriate legislative vehicle, noting state‑level discussions are ongoing on a consistent solution across agencies.
Outcomes • AB 82: board voted to support the bill (motion passed). • SB 402: board voted to support the bill (motion passed). • Fingerprinting authority language: board approved proposed statutory text and authorized staff to pursue legislative inclusion (motion passed).
Board staff said letters documenting positions will be posted to the board’s website and, when appropriate, filed with relevant legislative committees.
