Committee directs staff to pursue statutory clarifications on video supervision and abuse‑reporting coursework; motion passes

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences’ Policy & Advocacy Committee voted Oct. 24 to direct staff to draft legislative language clarifying two sets of technical statutory issues: (1) supervisor assessment requirements for the appropriateness of two‑way, real‑time video conferencing for supervision, and (2) updating child, elder and dependent adult abuse assessment and reporting coursework and the board’s authority to specify acceptable training sources.

Roseanne Helms, Legislative Manager, explained staff propose amending multiple Business and Professions Code sections to make the supervisor‑assessment requirement apply only when two‑way real‑time video supervision is actually used, rather than requiring an assessment in all cases. On abuse reporting training, staff proposed removing outdated cross‑board consultation language and clarifying that child abuse assessment and reporting coursework must include California‑specific material; staff also recommended limiting acceptable training sources to accredited schools or board‑recognized continuing education providers rather than non‑accredited local associations or county departments.

John Sobek (LMFT member) moved to direct staff to draft and pursue the discussed statutory amendments as a legislative proposal; the motion was seconded. Christina (board staff) conducted the roll call. The recorded votes were Chris Jones (yes), Kelly Ranasini (yes), John Sobek (yes) and Wendy Strack (yes). The motion carried.

Actionable elements described in staff materials include: clarifying that the supervisor assessment is only required if two‑way real‑time video conferencing is used for supervision; specifying that California content is required for the seven‑hour child abuse assessment and reporting course; and removing a provision that allowed applicants to opt out of that coursework by claiming irrelevance to current practice. Staff said they will prepare the formal legislative proposal for board consideration and proceed through the usual legislative process.

Committee members and a public commenter from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists spoke in favor of the technical cleanup and the California‑specific clarification for abuse training. The motion to direct staff to prepare the proposal passed unanimously among committee members present.