BSRB monitors legislative session; staff flag impact of military-spouse fee change and SB63 'Help Not Harm' uncertainty

Executive Director David Fye briefed the Marriage and Family Therapy Advisory Committee on legislative developments affecting the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.

Fye summarized the session’s procedural status: the legislature had passed an appropriations bill with some gubernatorial line-item vetoes under consideration and was resolving overrides. He said the BSRB’s budget request was recommended and funding levels approved roughly as requested.

Two pieces of legislation of specific interest were discussed. First, a change widening a military-spouse exemption from certain licensing fees by removing the word “active” from prior statute language. “It will increase the number of military spouses that are exempt from licensing … fees,” Fye said, and added the agency cannot yet quantify the revenue decrease but expects to absorb it and will monitor after the bill becomes effective.

Second, Fye addressed Senate Bill 63, commonly referred to in the briefing as the “Help Not Harm” bill. He said the statute contains language directed at medical procedures, referrals and prescribing in ways that overlap partially with behaviors of some licensees but not others. “It’s a very difficult bill, especially for our agency to work through,” he said. Because the BSRB does not provide legal advice and does not generally interpret statutes for licensees, staff are reviewing SB63 with legal counsel to determine the statute’s impact on the professions the board regulates.

Fye told members the agency would update the committee if the board takes a formal position on the legislation and recommended licensees consult their own counsel for practice implications until official guidance is issued.

Ending: Committee members were alerted to the pending changes and asked to watch staff updates and outreach once the legal impacts are clarified.