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Board supports sunset extension, teleconferencing and emergency‑waiver bills; seeks amendments on others
Summary
The California Board of Psychology voted to support several bills (SB 775, SB 470, SB 641, SB 579) and requested amendments to include outstanding sunset items. The board also endorsed AB 489 on deceptive AI use in healthcare communications and voted to nominate a board member for an ASPPB award.
At its May 9 meeting the California Board of Psychology took formal positions on multiple bills arising from the board’s 2025 sunset review and broader legislative proposals affecting boards and licensees.
What the board did: The board voted to support Senate Bill 775 (a sunset/extension and clean‑up measure that had been amended to include several of the board’s sunset recommendations) if amended to include remaining items from the board’s sunset report. The board also voted to support Senate Bill 470 (permanent teleconferencing provisions under the Bagley‑Keene Open Meeting Act), Senate Bill 641 (waivers and fee relief related to declared emergencies) and Senate Bill 579 (a mental‑health and artificial‑intelligence working group, with a requested amendment to include psychologists). Board staff also reported continued engagement on Assembly Bill 489 (prohibiting misleading AI‑generated clinical communications), a bill the board had previously supported and on which staff had suggested technical amendments.
Votes at a glance: - SB 775 (sunset/technical changes): Motion to support if amended carried (recorded roll call: President Tate and a majority of members voted aye; one recusal recorded). The board asked that remaining items from its 2025 sunset report be added. - SB 470 (Bagley‑Keene teleconferencing): Motion to support carried (unanimous among members voting). - SB 641 (emergency waivers/exemptions for board fees and CE): Motion to support carried (board noted small fiscal impact; staff reported about a dozen licensees initially affected by the recent emergency relief to date). - SB 579 (mental health & AI working group): Motion to support if amended to name a psychologist for the work group carried. - AB 489 (prohibition on deceptive AI‑generated health communications): Board previously voted to support and proposed amendments to strengthen enforcement authority and to add reports/assessments to covered communications.
Why it matters: Several items respond to the board’s sunset review and reflect priorities including clarifying supervisory and qualification rules, ensuring meeting access through teleconferencing, and protecting licensees and consumers in declared emergencies. AI and exam policy remain cross‑cutting topics: members asked lawmakers and sponsor offices for clear definitions and for inclusion of psychologists on AI policy panels.
Procedure and next steps: For bills the board supported with amendments, staff will pursue the requested changes with legislative offices. The board voted on each position by roll call; staff will monitor amendments and report back at the next meeting.
Ending: The board framed its votes as continuing responses to the sunset review and as steps to preserve consumer protection and operational clarity for licensees and applicants during emergencies and in the face of rapid technology shifts.
