Assembly Bill No. 665–Committee on Ways and Means

(On Behalf of Budget Division)

March 22, 1999

____________

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

 

SUMMARY—Authorizes certain persons to provide psychological services to offender at institution of department of prisons without obtaining license to practice psychology. (BDR 54-1614)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

~

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to psychologists; authorizing a person to provide psychological services to an offender at an institution of the department of prisons pursuant to a contract entered into by his employer and the department of prisons without obtaining a license to practice psychology; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 641.390 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 641.390 1. A person shall not represent himself as a psychologist

1-3 within the meaning of this chapter or engage in the practice of psychology

1-4 unless he is licensed under the provisions of this chapter, except that [any]

1-5 :

1-6 (a) A psychological scientist employed by an accredited educational

1-7 institution or public agency which has set explicit standards may represent

1-8 himself by the title conferred upon him by [such] the institution or agency

1-9 [.] ; and

1-10 (b) A person who provides psychological services to an offender at an

1-11 institution of the department of prisons pursuant to a contract entered

1-12 into by his employer and the department of prisons may provide those

1-13 services without obtaining a license pursuant to the provisions of this

1-14 chapter.

2-1 2. This section does not grant approval for any person to offer his

2-2 services as a psychologist to any other person as a consultant, and to accept

2-3 remuneration for such psychological services, other than that of his

2-4 institutional salary, unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this

2-5 chapter.

2-6 3. This chapter does not prevent the teaching of psychology or

2-7 psychological research, unless the teaching or research involves the

2-8 delivery or supervision of direct psychological services to a person.

2-9 Persons who have earned a doctoral degree in psychology from an

2-10 accredited educational institution may use the title "psychologist" in

2-11 conjunction with the activities permitted by this subsection.

2-12 4. A graduate student in psychology whose activities are part of the

2-13 course of study for a graduate degree in psychology at an accredited

2-14 educational institution or a person pursuing post doctoral training or

2-15 experience in psychology to fulfill the requirements for licensure under the

2-16 provisions of this chapter may use the terms "psychological trainee,"

2-17 "psychological intern," "psychological resident" or "psychological

2-18 assistant" if the activities are performed under the supervision of a licensed

2-19 psychologist in accordance with the regulations adopted by the board.

2-20 5. A person who is certified as a school psychologist by the state board

2-21 of education may use the title "school psychologist" or "certified school

2-22 psychologist" in connection with activities relating to school psychologists.

2-23 Sec. 2. NRS 641.440 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-24 641.440 Any person who:

2-25 1. Presents as his own the diploma, license or credentials of another;

2-26 2. Gives either false or forged evidence of any kind to the board or any

2-27 member thereof, in connection with an application for a license;

2-28 3. Practices psychology under a false or assumed name or falsely

2-29 personates another psychologist of a like or different name;

2-30 4. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 641.390, 641.410 and

2-31 641A.410, represents himself as a psychologist, or uses any title or

2-32 description which incorporates the word "psychology," "psychological,"

2-33 "psychologist," "psychometry," "psychometrics," "psychometrist" or any

2-34 other term indicating or implying that he is a psychologist, unless he has

2-35 been issued a license; or

2-36 5. [Practices] Except as otherwise provided in NRS 641.390, practices

2-37 psychology unless he has been issued a license,

2-38 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

2-39 Sec. 3. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.

~